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TS SLO IEE SMCS OO LESSORS NE ENS OT
Forty-eighth Year GRAND RAPIDS, WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 25, 1931 Number 2475

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The Ladder of St. Augustine re
Pa:
Saint Augustine, well hast thou said, 3 °

That of our vices we can frame g

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Ay

 

 

 

 

A ladder, if we will but tread

Beneath our feet each deed of shame.

All common things, each day's events,
That with the hour begin and end,
Our pleasures and our discontents,
Are rounds by which we may ascend.

The low desire, the base design,
That makes another’s virtues less;
The revel of the ruddy wine,

And all occasions of excess,

The longing for ignoble things;
The strife for triumph more than truth;
The hardening of the heart that brings
Irreverence for the dreams of youth;

All thoughts of ill; all evil deeds,

That have their root in thoughts of ill;
‘Whatever hinders or impedes

The action of the nobler will—

All these must be trampled down
Beneath our feet, if we would gain

In the bright fields of fair renown
The right of eminent domain.

We have not wings, we cannot soar;
But we have feet to scale and climb

By slow degrees, by more and more,
The cloudy summits of our time.

The mighty pyramids of stone

That wedge-like cleave the desert airs
When nearer seen and better known

Are but gigantic flights of stairs.

 

The distant mountains that uprear
Their solid bastions to the skies
Are crossed by pathways that appear

As we to higher levels rise.

 

 

HENRY WADSWORTH LONGFELLOW
Born Feb. 27, 1807. Died March 24, 1882.

 

 

 

The heights by great men reached and kept
Were not attained by sudden flight,

But they, while their companions slept,
Were toiling upward in the night.

Standing on what too long we bow

With shoulders bent and downcast eyes,
We may discern, unseen before,

A path to higher destinies,

Nor deem the irrevocable Past,
As wholly wasted, wholly vain,
If, rising on its wrecks, at last
7 To something nobler we attain.

 

 

 

  

res?

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General Offices: 910 South Michigan Ave., Chicago, Ill.

1707

 

 

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GRAND HAPIDs

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Forty-eighth Year

GRAND RAPIDS, WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 25, 1931

Number 2475

 

MICHIGAN TRADESMAN
E. A. Stowe, Editor

PUBLISHED WEEKLY by Tradesman Company,
from its office the Barnhart Building, Grand Rapids.

UNLIKE ANY OTHER PAPER. Frank, free and
fearless for the good that we can do. Each issue com-
plete in itself. .

DEVOTED TO the best interests of business men,

 

 

 

SUBSCRIPTION RATES areas follows: $3 per year,
if paid strictly m advance. $4 per year if not paid
in advance. Canadian subscription, $4.04 per year,
payable invariably in advance. Sample copies 10 cents
each. Extra copies of current issues, 10 cents; issues a
month or more old. 15 cents; issues a year or more
ld, 25 cents; issues five years or more old 50 cents.

Entered September 23, 1883, at the Postoffice of Grand
Rapids as second class matter under Act of March
3, 1879.

 

 

 

JAMES M. GOLDING
Detroit Representative
507 Kerr Bldg.

 

 

OLD MACKINAW.

 

It Was Seat of Government For Many
Years.

While the prohibition of liquor in the
colony. was the center of the fight
between Cadillac and the Jesuit priests,
which led to the founding of Detroit,
it is but fair to say that the great con-
test to know wheher France or Eng-
land should conrol this territory was
presenting itself with added force every
year.

At the first English colonists were
content to settle along the Atlantic
coast and build permanent homes as
their ideal, while France had for its
greatest ideal, the fur trade which grew
into immense proportions, especially
in the Northwest, as the Upper Penin-
sula of Michigan and that region was
generally known. When the eighteenth
century opened France had approxi-
mately ten times as much territory in
America as had England. At the same
time the English population of Amer-
ica was several times as great as was
that of the French. There had been a
growing policy for the English and the
Dutch from Albany, to invade the
Northwest for the fur trade. For this
purpose they utilized the Iroquois as
fur traders. Burdened as the French
traders were, with the license fees re-
quired by their home government, they
were utterly unable to compete with
the English and Dutch traders who
could employ the Iroquois traders at
such easy terms that they could offer
the Indians much better prices for their
furs than was possible from the French.
Cadillac’s argument that a settlement
at Detroit would be more strategic
because more at the cross roads for
this traffic, was beyond any question
true. If the invasion of the Iroquois
to represent the Dutch and English
could be stopped by force, operations
from Detroit could be made much more
effective than from St. Ignace.

The heavy French fees for licenses
for traders had led to another trouble
which made itself most prominent al-
most as soon as Cadillac, representing

organized. government, abandoned St.
Ignace. For years there had been de-
veloping all through that region, an
almost unlimited number of unlicensed
traders known as Coureurs de Bois.
Like the modern bootleggers they had
no respect for law. When the govern-
ment moved from the region, they just
simply cut loose. The resulting con-
ditions, hundreds of miles away from
civilization, in the woods, can hardly
be guessed at. After the priests burned
the chapel and left, it was even worse
than the conditions which made it
necessary for them to do so.

It is somewhat difficult to learn just
how much was left at St. Ignace dur-
ing the years after the chapel was
burned. It wasn’t long before the few
who cared for decency and some sense
of morality, began to urge for the re-
turn of government and the church.
Father Marest, who went to the Sioux
when the chapel was burned, was in-
duced to return to St. Ignace in 1712
but was only there for a short time.
The old priests’ residence was still
standing at that time. There was a
new church there in 1741 and there
is an old register of the parish which
has entries of baptisms and deaths
from about that time, but the entries
seem to be at very spasmodic intervals.
Several of these entries are of special
interest as they indicate beyond any
question that slavery was recognized
in the colony. This practice went so
far that one of the baptisms was that
of an eight-year-old slave girl who was
given to the mission. Most of these
slaves were Pawnee Indians but there
were some negroes represented in the
entries. One well-known historian
claims that the French residents grad-
ually ran down until there were only
fifteen left there.

Just when the settlement was started
on the South side of the Strait is very
hard to determine. Several miles down
the shore of Lake Michigan there was
a peculiarly bent tree which took so
nearly the shape of a cross that the
region was called L Arbour Croux.
That neighborhood was known in the
very earliest days. Some things seem
to indicate that there was some kind
of a settlement there long before 1744
the first of which we have definite

‘knowledge. It may be that the settle-

ment on the South side of the Strait
was a sort of station between this set-
tlement and the post at St. Ignace.
Whatever may have been its beginning,
it looks as if the settlement on the
South side of the Strait grew as St.
Ignace diminished,

When the remnant of the Fox In-
dians who escaped from the massacre
at Detroit, returned to their home ‘in
the Northwest, they were very resent-
ful and maintained a most ugly mood
until.a force was sent against them.
With its usual practice the French

government offered special induce-
ments to elements of this force who
would maintain themselves. The re-
sult was that while the semblance of a
siege was maintained, when the final
showdown was reached near Green
Bay, in what is now Wisconsin, it -was
little more than a trading venture.

As these conditions were developing
one after another, the urge for re-
establishment of a post at the Mackinac
Strait was being more and more mani-
fest. This demand soon took the form
of a general call for the return of Sieur
de Lignery, a former governor of the
post, to resume that office. Action
was put off for a time and there seems
to be quite a division of opinion as to
just when he returned. Dr. Kellogg,
in a recent book, the French Regime,
says that he went back in 1712, which
is several years sooner than others
seem to argue. When he returned
Lignery went to St. Ignace, but when
he was furnished with troops three
years after his return, he seems to
have installed the soldiers at the South
side settlement which has long been
known as Old Mackinaw, and this was
the seat of government for several
years after that. With the re-estab-
lishment of a settlement on the Strait,
Detroit was relegated to the secondary
place as a real trading point and was
left to the establishment of itself as a
real settlement for local settlement
purposes.

Another change about this time was
the development of the settlement
where Niles is now, on the St. Joseph
river. It will be remembered that the
old settlement was near the mouth of
the river. It is true that Father Al-
louez had some kind of a mission where
Niles now stands, at a very early date,
but it had gone out with the destruc-
tion of the settlement near the mouth
of the river. The new fort was named
Fort St. Joseph and has the distinc-
tion of having been captured by the
Spanish some years later, giving rise
to the fact that parts of Michigan
have been under four flags.

A. Riley Crittenden.

Howell, Michigan,

 

eae
State Court Voids Georgia Chain Tax.

Georgia’s anti-chain tax law fell by
the wayside a few days ago when the
Supreme Court of that state ruled that
it is discriminatory and therefore un-
constitutional. The Georgia law, which
was enacted in 1929, assessed a tax of
$50 per store on chain systems oper-
ating more than five units in the state.
Estimates made by the State Comp-
troller General indicated that a revenue
of $60,000 a year had been hoped for
under the measure.

The decision rendered by the court
was given in a suit brought by the F.
W. Woolworth Co. and others for an
injunction against Comptroller General
William B. Harrison. In the Superior

Court of Fulton county (Atlanta) the
action was dismissed on a demurrer by
the State. An appeal was carried to
the high court of the State by the peti-
tioners, and the present decision over-
rules that of the lower court.

It was the second ruling made on the
law. Some months ago another plaintiff
operating five stores asked relief from
the tax on the ground that it applied
only to chains operating more than five
units. The termino'ogy of the law it-
self was ambiguous, but the court,
ruling for the plaintiff, held that the
interpretation giving the taxpayers the
greatest protection must be taken.

A law involving a principle similar
to that on which the Georgia law was
based was thrown out by the North
Carolina Supreme Court two or three
years ago. Another law somewhat
similar in principle, that of Indiana,
has been ruled contrary to the United
States Constitution by a statutory
three-judge court and is now on appeal
to the United States Supreme Court.

——————
Famine Relief As It Should Be
Handled.

Congress has given notice that our
Government is not in the hand-out
business, but rather than let people
starve to death, it will loan money on
good security. Newspaper comment
seems to indicate that the security
stipulation excludes the great majority
of he distressed people from any bene-
it. Not knowing any of the particu-
lars of the kind of security required or
whether this measure will afford any
relief, it seems that the State of Ar-
kansas or any other where people are
destitute should immediately take steps
to provide the money to relieve its
own citizens.

This could be done by bonding the
State for an amount of money neces-
sary to carry the people until condi-
tions are such that they can maintain
themselves. If the State legislature
is in session it could authorize a bond
issue. If not in session, the governor
should call a special session for this
purpose. Banks in general are familiar
with the methods used to raise war
funds by the sale of bonds, and that
seems the most expeditious way now.
Money would begin to flow into the
State treasury at once and continue
in sufficient volume to meet the de-
mand. In a few years a certain per-
centage of this debt could be added
to State taxes each year and eventually
all be paid in full.

This outcome of the hoped for Gov-
ernment relief should be a lesson for
any similar condition in the future,
Let every commonwealth learn to de-
pend on its own resources, with or
without co-operation of benevolent or-
ganizations. E. E. Whitney.

———< -<& a

Keep your part of the works in or-

der. It will increase your production.

 

MICHIGAN TRADESMAN

February 25, 1931

 

MICHIGAN’S BIRD WOMAN.

 

Some Facts About Her Activities in
Florida.

Six days’ association with Michigan’s
“bird woman” has been our pleasur-
able experience during the past week
and which has changed our contempla-
tions from bonds to beings, from the
toil of business to the joy of beauty,
from man’s problems to nature’s per-
fection.

The identity of the “bird woman”
will be understood by many readers of
this article. To the others we wi'l
add that it is Mrs. Edith C. Munger,
of Hart, for eighteen years President
of the Michigan Audobon Society. Mrs.
Munger is a lover of nature in every
form, an authority on birds, a con-
servationist of the thirty-third degree.
On the day of her arrival, Feb. 14, it
was too damp to make a visit to a
nearby bird sanctuary, so our car, com-
monly used as a sanctum, was stripped
of its sanctorium equipment and took
our party to Lake Placid for a view of
the “Flame Vine” in its most gorgeous
beauty.

From Orlando ‘South we had found
this wonderful vine, which turns un-
sightly stumps and tree stubs or de-
lapidated roofs into bowers of beauty,
in varied degrees of perfection, but no-
where equal to the Lake Placid plant-
ing. For more than two miles South of
this unique town site of city propor-
tions, this vine, combining the flame
of red and the softening shade of yel-
low, covers a fence like a trellis of fire
and spreads along the roadside, a riot-
ous mass of surpassing beauty. The
roadway, Florida 8, is for this distance
over a series of knolls, each succeeding
the other with such frequency that one
may get the sensations of a roller coast-
er and at every rise the view continues
in undulating, unapproachable | bril-
liance. Beyond this bower and mass
of beauty to the East is a grove of
orange trees heavily laden with their
fruit, while but a few hundred yards
away to the West were the limpid
waves of Lake Placid and Lake June-
in-the-water.

The Lake Placid project is a de-
velopment of a club in the Adirondacks
of New York, where a lake of that
name has for many years been a
famous resort. In associating this
project with the New York State re-
sort the name of Lake Stearns was
changed to Lake Placid, but the ter-
ritory of the development includes
many lakes and numerous square miles,
within the ‘boundary lines of the town.
The town limits on the East touch
Lake Istapoga for nearly six miles and
this Poga lake is quite some sheet of
water—next to Lake Okeechobee the
largest in South Florida. There is a
well landscaped mall through the
town, flanked on each side by a one-
way drive with frequent intersections
and the buildings, large and small are
occupied and in the condition of a-New
England small town. It is about the
only town that I have seen, built on
and with great expectations which has
been held senisbly down to sane devel-
opment. The lesson of the “boom” is
here being heeded.

On Sunday morning we drove to
Lake Jackson, on the West side of
which is a bird rendezvous and the

feathery residents, with many transient
visitors in progress of migration, seem-
ed in fluttering and noisy expectancy of
their Northern guests. We had been
there on previous occasions, but had
never before seen or heard so many
birds nor enjoyed their friendliness to
an equal degree. They came quite
readily on call to pick peanuts from the
hands of members of the party, though
more of them lighted on Mrs. H. M.
and Dorothy than any of the others.
Mrs. Munger met numerous acquaint-
ances and made some new ones, while
the uninformed were busy with the
“bird woman’s” bird book in trying to
identify various delegations assembled
at the convention. That morning was
just a preliminary to several other ses-
sions attended, with Rev. G. C. White,
a bird enthusiast and authority, acting
as guide and interpreter.

This writer has not attended all of
the sessions and must confess a most
collossal ignorance of bird lore, with
which a person raised in the woods, as
he was. should be familiar. While this
is being writte. our own and another
party of nature lovers are attending,
under guidance of Dr. White, another
bird convention at a greater distance
than any of the previous gatherings.

On Sunday afternoon we drove again
to the Singing Tower and Sanctuary,
where we all had the good fortune to
see the nightingales feeding and make
unimpeded observations, which we had
not previously been able to do. These
birds have been brought from England
with the hope of propagating them
here. They are the only birds at the
Sanctuary confined in their flight by
an overhead and side wire enclosure.
The flamingoes, however, are restrict-
ed to limited wanderings by a wire
fence.

Whi'e on the bus by which she came
Mrs. Munger had met a person with
an anti-complex on the Tower and the
Sanctuary and who described it as a
“stupendous monument of egotism.”
The “bird woman,” as her friends
know, is one of the sort who want to
be shown before accepting any esti-
mate. Her reaction upon visiting it
was like that of the others of our party
as to its indescribable delight.

And to round out Sunday as a per-
fect day we attended the First Baptist
church (colored) in the evening. We
had not intended attending that church,
but were headed, through general and
particular invitation, for the Methodist
church further along the street—which
is either Lime or Lemon, the two be-
ing so much alike that it is not easy
to distinguish after dark, with their
similar attendant surroundings. The
Methodist church, after some years of
existence outwardly carrying the
weathering shade of its native wood
siding, is being painted and this special
invitation was probably—and very
properly—had for its purpose an ex-
change of melody for money. A group
of jubilee singers was to be the chief
attraction,

Of course, I have no idea that Bap-
tist brethren intentionally and deliber-
ately staged a rival and counter attrac-
tion. That would be unethical and per-
nicious proselyting. It’s not done, you
know, anywhere either North or South.
And there is always the explanatory
possibility of coincidence,

But, anyway, when our car, this
writer driving, arrived in front of this
first meeting house which, in the dark,
did not look as though it had been
painted much or of late, we found a1
assemblage of cars in front of and
about an open door, within which there
was gathered a considerable concourse
of color. Asking a dark man who was
looking after the car parking if this
was the church of the concert he as-
sured us with cheering confidence that
it was nothin’ else but. So we followed
his directions as to space, alighted,
locked and entered. ‘Once within and
seated—right up on the mourner’s
bench—we saw on the walls printed in
poster type p'acards spelling “Baptist”
with a big B. Yet, as we observed our
surroundings, we were not inclined to
retreat, though sorry to break a tenta-
tive previous engagement. There was
plenty of promise of a musical treat of
a nature unusual to us. The choir
numbered a score or more, seated back
of the pulpit, which was occupied only
occasionally during the evening by the
pastor. The services were most musi-
cal, featuring a quartette from the
Florida ‘Memorial College, accompanied
by a director.

Following the exercises a contribu-
tion was staged and a collection was
taken. Yes, I mean it that way. Upon
a call for funds for the benefit of the
college many of the congregation
arose and formed lines, marched to
the table in front of the pulpit and de-
posited on it their contributions, most-
ly small coins. No white people par-
ticipated in this march. Then the col-
lection drive began, aimed at the
whites, as well as the other hold-outs.
The whites sat in the middle section,
with the colored members of the con-
gregation in the side sections. The
collector-in-chief, a “Brother Jones,”
was spoken of by the pastor as a
“Napoleon of Finance” and surely the
“little corporal,” who became the mas-
ter of France and made all Europe
tremble, had nothing on this collector
in colorful action. And he had a very
able assistant in a. younger man, of
lighter shade who hustled while the
colored corporal expostulated. Also
the younger man did most of the
counting of the money deposited in two
piles on the table, showing the glean-
ings of both. Where these came close
together the person most active in the
counting had the best chance at the
coins adjacent to both piles.

The count showed $8.86 for the as-
sistant and $5.13 for the Napoleon.
After a moment’s contemplation, fol-
lowing that announcement he exclaim-
ed, “Who say that stealing ain’t a
profitable business and honesty gets its
reward in heaven?”

Harry M. Royal.
———_ « ~~ _____

Human progress marches only when
children excel their parents. In democ-
racy our progress is the sum of prog-
ress of the individuals—that they each
individually achieve to the full capacity
of their abilities and character. Their
varied personalities and abilities must
be brought fully to bloom; they must
not be mentally regimented to a single
mold or the qualities of many will be
stiflled; the door of opportunity must
be opened to each of them.—President
Hoover,

- Items From the Cloverland of Michi-

gan.
Sault Ste. Marie, Feb. 24—J]. G,
Wells, Upper Peninsula farm leader, is
back of “back to the farm movement”
in Michigan. Definite plans are being
worked out. His story shows that
people who were attracted to the cities
from the farm ‘by roseate views of city
luxuries and sky-high wages during
prosperous eras are forced by condi-
tions to think of getting back to the
farms. Many will not stay on the
farms when higher wages come, but a
larger number will have had a taste of
city life and will be content to remain
tillers of the soil and be better farmers
than they were before. George Bishop,
Secretary of the Upper Peninsula De-
velopment Bureau, has received more
enquiries for Upper Peninsula farms.
from one-time farmers now in indus-
trial centers than anv time during the
past two years. D. L. McMillan, our
agricultural agent, says that he has
also received a number of enquiries
during the past month totaling more
than the number received during the
past seven years. With these tenden-
cies in mind Mr. Wells, co-operating
with the Upper Peninsula Develop-
ment Bureau, is interviewing all agri-
cultural secretaries and agents in the
Upper Peninsula.

The Soo Creamery. competing with
sixty Michigan creameries was awarded
the third prize on 400 pounds of butter
entered in the butter competition at the
annual meeting of the Michigan Allied
Dairy Association at Jackson recently
with a score of 93, believed to be the
highest score ever received by any
sample of butter going out of the
Upper Peninsula, which speaks well for
Cloverland.

Word was received here last week
of the death of Charles Reid, Feb. 12.
at St. Catherines, Ont. Mr. Reid was
proprietor of a restaurant on Portage
avenue, near the Park Hotel, here,
some years ago.

Henry Voisine, a well-known busi-
ness man at Manistique, died, follow-
ing a-brief illness. at his home last
Thursday. He was born in Green
Island, Canada, on May 6, 1851. He
came to Manistique forty-five years
ago. His death will be mourned by a
large circle of friends. The business
of H. Voisine & Son will be continued
by the son, Eli J. Voisine.

At 40 some women are more attrac-
tive than they were at 20, but the num-
ber is limited,

C. W. Tapert left Monday for Cleve-
land on ‘business. He expects to be
away several days.

Fred Shaw, who was laid up by an
accident a short time ago, is now able
to get back on the job again at the
Gamble-Robinson Co.

John Newhouse, who left a short
time ago for a visit to Miami, Fla., has
returned and reports having had a most
delightful time, taking two dips in the
ocean daily and enjoying the sunshine.
He is positive that Florida will soon be
back in place again, as many regular
winter patrons are there again and
expect to spend the winters there regu-

larly. William G. Tapert.
ee
The need fer honesty cannot be

Over-estimated. Most of us are honest
in big things, but there are many who
are not so scrupulous in smal! matters.
There is, for example, the man who
robs his employer of time by failing
to observe working hours or wastes
the time of others by not being punc-
tual in keeping appointments. The
salesman who fails to be at the buyer’s
office punctually at the appointed hour
labors under a self-imposed handicap
before he starts his solicitation. In
the final analysis, being honest is sim-
ply showing the proper consideration
for the property of others, whether it
be time, money, or goods.

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+

 

—

February 25, 1931

MICHIGAN TRADESMAN : 3

 

IN THE REALM OF RASCALITY.

 

Questionable Schemes Which Are
Under Suspicion,

The labeling and sale of dyed rabbit
skins as and for more expensive furs,
are involved in an order of the Federal
Trade Commission to Adiel Vande-
weghe, New York, dealer in rabbit
skins, and to David Feshback, New
York, who manufactures fur garments
from rabbit skins dressed and dyed by
Vandeweghe.

The order directs that Feshback
cease and desist from selling garments
made from dyed rabbit skins bearing
the trade name or description ‘“Su-
perior Seal” or “Seal”, unless the latter
word be accompanied by other words
in conspicuous type clearly showing
that such garments have been or are
made from rabbit skins.

Vandeweghe is directed to discon-
tinue branding or labeling as “Superior
Seal” or “Seal” the rabbit skins dyed
by his firm for Feshback or others
engaged in manufacturing and selling
fur garments, unless the proper quali-
fications in the matter of type. letters
and words be followed out as to show
clearly that such garments were made
from rabbit skins,

 

The designations “Baltic Seal,” Bal-
tic Beaver’, or “Seal” or “Beaver” will
not be used by two firms dealing in
rabbit skins to describe their products
for sale, according to an order of the
Federal Trade Commission to Philip
A. Singer & Bros., Inc., Newark, N. J.,
and Herman Gelberg and Benjamin
Schwartz, partners, trading as Gelberg
& Schwartz, New York.

The orde> provides that Gelberg &
Schwartz shai! not use or offer for sale
rabbit skins bearing the foregoing trade
names unless the words ‘Seal’ or
“Beaver” are accompanied by descrip-
tions in conspicuous type showing that
such garments are made from rabbit
skins, while Singer & Bros. are to stop
marking these names on rabbit skins
dyed by it for Messrs. Gelberg &
Schwartz or for others manufacturing
and selling fur garments, unless the
necessary qualifications appear in con-
spicuous type.

Singer & Bro. dressed, dyed, and
trade-marked large quantities of rabbit
skins for Gelberg & Schwartz and for
other fur garment manufacturers until
dissolution of Gelberg & Schwartz in
May, 1926, shortly after issuance of
the Commission’s complaint.

After service of the complaint Sin-
ger & Bro. adopted the practice of
stamping on the back of each rabbit
skin dressed and dyed for it for the
owners thereof the words “Dyed
Coney” but in. much smaller letters
than those in which the trade-marks
appeared,

 

Garments made from dyed rabbit
skins will no longer be advertised and
sold as “Golden Seal” or “Seal” unless
represented also by other words in
conspicuous type clearly showing that
such goods are made from rabbit skins,
according to an order of the Federal
Trade Commission to Samuel Jacobs
and Isidor Sachs trading as Jacobs &
Sachs,‘ fur garment makers, New York,

and the Golden Fur Dyeing Co., Inc.,
dressers and dyers of skins of fur-
bearing animals, Brooklyn. —

The Golden Fur Co. is to cease
branding as “Golden Seal’ or ‘Seal-
words “Seal” or “Sealines” be accom-
dyes for Jacobs & Sachs, or for other
fur garments manufacturers, unless the
words “Seal” or “Sealnos” be accom-
panied in conspicuous type by other
words showing the garments to be
made from rabbit skins.

During 1925 and 1926 and until 1927
the Golden Fur concern dyed several
hundred thousand rabbit skins in black
for Jacobs & Sachs, stamping on the
backs its trade-mark “Golden: Seal”,
enclosed in a circle. Jacobs & Sachs
made them into coats for women.

Close to forty such skins were used
ordinarily to make up a coat. The
“Golden Seal” label appeared in forty
places on the inside of the coat.

Following issuance of complaint in
this case Golden Fur added to its trade-
mark the words “Seal Dyed Conoy”’
in small letters, but in such a position
that dealers could cut open the lining
and display the name “Golden Seal’
yet conceal the words “Seal Dyed
Coney”.

In 1928 the company transferred its
business to Great Northern Fur Dye-
ing & Dressing Co., Inc., but continued
to own or control 20 per cent. of the
capital stock of Great Northern.

Great Northern, in 1927, began dye-
ing rabbit skins for Jacobs & Sachs
and marked on them the name “Bond-
ed Northern Seal” in large letters ac-
companied by “Seal Dyed Coney’ in
small letters.

A complaint charging Great North-
ern Fur Dyeing & Dressing Co., of
Laurelton, L. I., with designation of
dyed rabbit skins as seal was dismissed
by the Commission in December 1930
because of dissolution of that corpora-
tion and its discontinuance of business.

———_-_-— -— 2» -

Importers Push Straw Hat Sales.

Heavy increases in the volume of
fur felt and straw hat bodies for wo-
men’s millinery imported this season
will be shown by Government statis-
tics at the close of this season. Com-
panies which former'y specialized in
the importation of wool felt hat bodies,
they explained, have turned to other
types when they found their market
cut off by the high rates of the present

* tariff. Efforts to stimulate the demand

for straw hats have ‘been made by the
importers, who predict the coming
Summer season will find the straws
supplanting felts in popularity.
—_>~-+___

Foreign Novelty Lines Curtai’ed.

European manufacturers of novelty
merchandise are not catering to the
American market as they did formerly.
Fear of unsettled business conditions in
this market and restrictions of the new
tariff discouraged many of the pro-
ducers, and they had little in the way
of new goods to show buyers abroad
on recent trips. The heavy imports
of staple goods are likely to be cur-
tailed this year, also, because of pre-
vailing low prices here. In many in-
stances, it is pointed out, staple goods
of comparable quality can be purchased
as cheaply in this country as abroad.

 

 

Home Baker
Flour

The prideand satisfaction of
the housewife in baking per-
fect bread is best realized
through the use of perfect
Flour.

The tremendous increase in
Sales of Home Baker Flour
shows a constantly growing
sentiment with the consum-
ing public that Home Baker
is the perfect Flour.

Every sack of Home Baker
Flour (which is made to our
own formulae) is absolute-
ly guaranteed to give satis-
faction.

Sold through Independent |
Merchants only.

Tune in on Radio StationW.J.R., Detroit, every
Monday night at 7 o’clock Central Standard
time and enjoy “Lee & Cady’s Quaker”
program.

LEE & CADY

 

 

 

 

4

MOVEMENTS OF MERCHANTS.

‘Manistee—Zaborowski & Jorgenson,
dealers in boots and shoes are-liquidat-
ing. -.

Coldwater—Old & Johnson have
opened a shoe department in their
clothing store.

Cadillac—Homer Frye has opened
an auto radiator shop, etc., at 312%
North Mitchell street.

Ferndale—The H. V. Kennedy Lum-
ber Co. has changed its name to the
C. H. Reynolds Lumber Co.

Dearborn—Edward -C. Rieth, dealer
in boots and shoes at 4822 Schaefer
Bldg., has filed a petition in bank-
ruptcy.

Imlay City—The Blaisdell Stores
have opened a branch store here. It
will deal in flour, seeds, farm supplies,
baby chicks, feed, etc.

Coloma — The Coloma Fruit Ex-
change has been incorporated with a
capital stock of $50,000, $24,000 being
subscribed and paid in.

Prescott—The Prescott Co-operative
Co., farm products, has been incorpo-
rated with a capital stock of $50,000,
$14,400 being subscribed and paid in.

Allegan—Charles Marow has sold
his tobacco store and billiard parlor
to John F. Boram, recently of Kala-
mazoo, who has. taken possession.

Detroit—The Co-operative Rabbit,
Fur & Meat Co. of Michigan, 1572
Elm street, has been incorporated with
a capital stock of $50,000, $3,000 being
subscribed and paid in.

Detroit—Kane’s Credit Clothes Shop,
Inc., 9306 Mack avenue, has been in-
corporated with a capital stock of
$2,500, of which amount $1,500 has
been subscribed and paid in.

Pentwater—J. H. Crowner, formerly
of Peck & Crowner, hardware dealers,
has purchased the J. W. Anys store
building and stock of groceries, etc.,
taking immediate possession.

Detroit—Andrews & Shellfish, 1454
Washington. Blvd., dealer in men’s
clothing and furnishings, has been in-
corporated with a capital stock of
$7,500, all subscribed and paid in.

South Haven—The Bradley Electric
Co., 269 Center street, electrical equip-
ment, appliances, etc., has been incor-
porated with a capital stock of $8,000,
$5,500 being being subscribed and paid
in.

Detroit—The Mitz-Dunn Co., 7149
West Fort street, has been incorporat-
ed to deal in fruits, vegetables and
produce at wholesale and retail with a
capital stock of $3,000, all subscribed
and paid in.

Detroit — The Floral City Paper
Stock Company, 1458 Clinton street,
has been incorporated to deal in paper
stock, waste paper, etc., with a capital
stock of $25,000, all subscribed and
$16,500 paid in.

Negaunee—A. J. Sawbridge, furni-
ture and hardware dealer on West Iron
street, has remodeled, redecorated and
re-arranged his entire store building,

installing modern fixtures, lighting
equipment, etc.
Detroit—The Aerie Coal Burner

Sales Corporation, with business of-
fices in Detroit-Leland hotel building,
has been incorporated with a capital
stock of $10,000, $6,400 being sub-
scribed and paid in. ;
Detroit—The Griffin Coal Co., 14799

 

MICHIGAN TRADESMAN

Meyers Road, has been incorporated
to deal in, fuel, lumber, cement, ice and
builders’ supplies with'a capital stock
of $10;000; $4,200 being subscribed and
$3,700 paid in ‘in: cash.

Jackson—M. R. Lewis, who has con-
ducted a meat market at Albion for
the past six years, has removed here
and engaged in the meat business at
133 North Jackson street under the
style of the Lewis Meat Co.

Big Beaver—The Crystal Rock Min-
eral Water Co., R. R. Royal Oak, has
been incorporated to bottle and sell
mineral water, with a capital stock of
3,000 shares at $1 a share, $2,000 being
subscribed and $1,062.50 paid in.

Kalamazoo—Adolph Lapin, trading
as Paradise Lingerie Shop, 305 South
Burdick street, is named in bankruptcy
proceedings filed in U. S. District
Court, at Grand Rapids. Liabilities are
listed at $6,700, and assets at $2,866.

Detroit—Herbert J. Gelles & Co,
Inc., 109 East Jefferson avenue, has
been incorporated to buy stocks of gen-
eral merchandise and sell them at re-
tail and wholesale with a capital stock
of $10,000, all subscribed and paid in.

Utica—William Wagner has sold his
hardware stock to Louis Kraft; an
employe of the store for the past four
years and his brother, Charles W.
Kraft. The business will be continued
under the style of the Kraft Hardware
Co.

Detroit—The M. H. Bennett Co.,
1247 Washington boulevard, manufac-
turing and retailing men’s and women’s
tailored garments, has been incorporat-
ed with a capital stock of 2,500 shares
at $10 a share, $1,000 being subscribed
and paid in in cash.

Wyandotte—Involuntary bankruptcy
proceedings have been filed in the U. S.
District Court at Detroit against Lazo
Phillips, retail dry goods, by Fixel &
Fixel, attorneys, representing Edson,
Moore & Co., $225; Boston Paper Co.,
$130; Klopper Bros., $317.

Pontiac—A. R. Walter, who conducts
a grocery store at 282 State street, has
opened a second store at 309 Orchard
Lake avenue, under the style of the
Boulevard Market, where groceries,
fruits, meats and vegetables will be
handled. An electric refrigeration sys-
tem has been installed.

Albion—H. A. Christensen has pur-
chased from I. R. Hoffman, the half
interest in his meat market on North
Superior street, which he sold to Mr.
Hoffman last October and will con-
tinue the business under his own name.
Mr. Hoffman will return to Battle
Creek.

Lansing — Involuntary bankruptcy
proceedings have been filed in the U. S.
District Court at Detroit against Lester
Klein, doing business as Richard
Clothing Co., by John McNeill Burns,
attorney, representing Seymour Roth-
enberg Co., $250; Belcraft Shirt Co.,
$98: Schmezer Mesirow Co., $300.

Battle Creek—The Radio Equipment
Co., located in the Arcade for the past
seven years, has removed to 114 West
Michigan avenue, where larger quar-
ters were available. In addition to its
former line of radios, electric refrig-
erators and other electric equipment, a
line of golf supplies has been added.

Muskegon Heights—A. G. Brainard
has sold his meat market at 5 West

Broadway to Clyde and Clifford Bloom,
who will continue the business under
their. own name. Mr. Brainard will
assume the management of his Brain-
ard Food Shop, at 1039 Péck street,
which has been under the management
of H. V. Bolt for the past four years.

Battle Creek—I. L. ‘Mustard has en-
gaged in the fish business at 57%
South Jefferson avenue, under the
style of the Fish Pond. Live ‘fish will
be sold from a large tank in the win-
dow of the store, fresh water con-
stantly running through it and live
fish swimming about. A complete line
of dressed and prepared fish will also
be handled.

Paw Paw—Walter S. Hartman, for-
merly manager of an A. & P. store
here, has purchased the business block
occupied by the Engel bakery and
Morris Freeman’s grocery stock and
will open a grocery store under his
Own name as soon as Mr. Freeman can
vacate that portion of the block he
now occupies. Mr. Freeman will re-
move his stock to South Haven.

Hamtramck—Involuntary bankrupt-
cy proceedings have been filed in the
U. S. District Court at Detroit against
Albert Kasmer and Francis Wispe, in-
dividually and doing business as Kas-
mer & Wispe, by Bryant, Lincoln &
Miller and John McNeill Burns, at-
torneys, representing Tober Saifer
Shoe Co., $359; Commonwealth Shoe
Co., $300; Portage Shoe Co., $195.

Leslie—February 28 occurs the fifth
anniversary of the opening of the
George Brownlee implement store and
will be observed by holding a demon-
stration of various farm machinery by
factory representatives at 10 a. m., a
free hot lunch at noon, followed im-
mediately by an auction sale of $3,000
worth of farm machinery, after which
a free moving picture entitled Romance
of the Reaper will be shown at Union
hall,

Bellevue—February 24 papers were
signed assigning to the Bellevue State
bank all the holdings, including real
estate, of the Farmers State Bank.
This merging of the two banks is the
outcome of several months negotiations
in which the State Banking Commis-
sioner played an important role. The
Bellevue State Bank is now one of
the strongest banks in Eaton county.
No change in the personnel of the bank
is contemplated.

Bay City—A local store selling $15,-
000 in paints every year utilizes every
possible aid from manufacturers, trade
papers, local events or conditions
which suggest another way toward bet-
ter paint business. One price for all
in the paint department is the well
known policy of this house. This com-
pany has sold every local real estate
broker on the idea of “surface saving,”
proving that $500 invested in. paint will
easily sell the house quicker and at a
higher figure.

Negaunee — Sakari Lukkarainen,
Arvid Jarvi and Mrs. Jacob Salo, have
formed a partnership and engaged in
the fancy bakery business under the
style of the Quality Bakery, in the
Chaussee building, Pioneer avenue and
Case street. Ernest Marck, of Muni-
sing, who specializes in German baked
goods will be in charge of the baking
department. All the members of the

February 25, 1931

firm are well known here, having been
identified with the business interests
of the city for years.

 

Manufacturing Matters.

Bay Port—The Wallace Stone Co.
has increased its capital stock from
$50,000 to $150,000.

Alpena—The Alpena Garment Co.,
Water street, has increased its capital
stock from $150,000 to $300,000.

Detroit — The Cabinet Ventilator
Corporation, has changed its name to
the Bon-Air Ventilator Company.

Kalamazoo—The Upjohn Co., man-
ufacturer of pharmaceuticals, has in-
creased its capital stock from $4,500,000
to $6,500,000.

Cadillac—The Wilcox Chair Co. has
been incorporated with a capital stock
of 5,000 shares at $45.66 a share, $228,-
310 ‘being subscribed and paid in.

Detroit—The Detroit Metal & Rub-
ber Co., 1610 Gillett street, has been
incorporated with a capital stock of
$12,000, all subscribed and paid in.

Muskegon—The Langland Manufac-
turing Co., Muskegon avenue, lumber,
sash, doors, etc., has opened its box
making plant which has been idle since
last fall.

Menominee — Fire destroyed the
Stephenson creamery and cheese fac-
tory, entailing a loss of more than
$15,000, with insurance of $9,000, it is
stated by Louis Sheevy, proprietor.

Detroit—The Miller Corporation of
America, 1545 Temple avenue, has been
incorporated to manufacture and sell
castings, machine work, etc., with a
capital stock of $2,000, all subscribed
and paid in.

Detroit—Henry Lauhoff Cereal Mills
Inc., 3538 Russell street, has merged
its business into a stock company un-
der the same style with a capital stock
of 50,000 shares at $1 a share, $50,000
being subscribed and paid in.

Detroit—The Michigan Crate Co.,
6468 Gratiot avenue, has been incor-
porated to manufacture and sell milk
crates, boxes, etc., with a capital stock
of 50,000 shares at $1 a share, $17,500
being subscribed and paid in.

Detroit—Wall Chemicals, Inc., 1059
West Grand boulevard, has merged its
business into a stock company under
the same style with a capital stock of
10,000 shares at $10 a share, $50,000
being subscribed and $5,000 paid in.

Saginaw—Wm. Polson & Co., 1600
Hess street, has been incorporated to

“manufacture and deal in lumber, mill-

work, furniture and building supplies,
with a capital stock of 50,000 shares
at $1 a share, $23,002 being subscribed
and paid in.

Detroit — The Michigan Transit
Mixed Concrete Co., 909 Transporta-
tion Bldg., has been incorporated to
manufacture and deal in concrete and
other construction materials with a
capital stock of $400,000, $200,000 be-
ing subscribed and $84,000 paid in in
cash.

prietor of the Harbor Cigar Co. for
the past twenty years, has sold the
business to Frank Trautman and Henry
Valle., who will continue the business
under the same style. Mr. Colef has
purchased an interest in the Colef Glass
Products Co. with his two sons. The
company manufactures mirrors, etc.

Benton Harbor—Charles Colef, pro-

 

sine

4

 

 

Ate

4

February 25, 1931

 

MICHIGAN TRADESMAN

 

Essential Features of the Grocery

Staples.

Sugar—Jobbers hold cane granulated
at 5.20 and beet granulated at 5c.

Canned Fruits—Califoynia fruits are
reported in better shape;in reports from
the Coast. ‘There is a good demand
for standard fruits, and contract pur-
chases are being taken up in. better
shape. Occasional concessions are re-
ported, but they are not frequent
enough to disturb the market. Some
packers are holding for slight advances
on standard and choice peaches. ‘Pears
are in better shape, but canned cherries
have been disturbed by reported con-
cessions selling out of the Northwest,
mostly om carryover merchandise.

Canned Vegetables—Quotations on
tomatoes are not changed, but might
easily work to higher levels under the
stimulus of improved demand starting
in March. Peas are still spotty. Con-
cessions are reported out of Wisconsin
on lower grades and some New York
State factors are accepting lower prices
on blocks of their unsold fancies.
Goods purchased on contract are mov-
ing out in better shape, some factors
report, while others say that buyers
are pressing for price adjustments.
String beans are still disturbed by
blocks of distress merchandise and odd
lots offered at considerable price cuts,
but this situation has abated somewhat
in the past few days.

Dried Fruits—Apricots are firmer
than last week. A large independent
packer advanced his quotations on
choice Blenheims. There are very few
apricots above these grades on the
Coast. Peaches and pears are well
sold up, and the unsold tonnages, prac-
tically all in packers’ hands, are con-
fined very largely to the lower grades.
Reports from the ‘Coast tell of con-
tinued easiness in evaporated apples,
due to price cutting in New York
State, where a surplus of low quality
apples is said to be pressing for sale.
Statistically, apples are in good posi-
tion, as unsold stocks ir. the hands of
all packers are said to be down to
about 5,000 tons, an amount which
might be moved out in the coming
spring and summer without particular
difficulty. Prunes are proving to be
somewhat of a market leader. All
sizes are said to be firmer and higher
in California and growers are receiving
better prices for the portion of the un-
sold crop which they hold. There is
noegreat surplus of small size prunes
now and large prunes are scarce. Med-
iums appear to be benefiting by the
market trend. Bulk varieties are mov-
ing in fair volume here, and there is
an improved sale of carton prunes.
Raisins are so well established that
trading is of 4 toutine nature. The
raisin pool has control of the situation,
and no prospect of a decline can be ex-
pected. A new offering by the pool
to commercial packers is expected
within a few weeks, and it will prob-
ably be at another %c advance above
the last offering.

Nuts—Trading in nuts is somewhat
more active on the spot in anticipation
of the Jewish holidays, but the past
week closes with prices unchanged.
A good demand for Manchurians is re-
ported there, although stocks in all
hands are light, and offerings from the
Orient are being made very sparingly.

French and Rumanian shelled walnuts
are also firm and scarce. ‘Chaberts
particularly are hard to find around
here. The Spanish almond market
has eased slightly abroad in sympathy
with the decline of the peseta, Levant
shelled filberts are unchanged and there
is a fairly wide price range among
shippers. Demand for shelled pecans
continues to reflect improvement.
Prices are favorable for trading and
the shortage of walnuts continues to
have some effect in stimulating pecans.
There is a good enquiry for both shell-

ed and unshelled Brazils which are due:

to appear on the market here in the
near future. California almonds and

walnuts are progressing toward a
clean-up.

Rice—Trading in rice continues
without special feature here. No

changes have developed in prices and
the primary market situation is firm.
Buyers on the spot are conservative in
their commitments. Reports from the
Southern producing states indicate a
growing shortage in long grains, par-
ticularly Fortunas. Japans, too, are
scarce in Arkansas and are very close-
ly held: In the short grain field top
grades of Blue Rose are not heavy and
are bringing the prices asked for them
by the growers who are holding the
bulk of the stocks,

Sauerkraut—Sauerkraut is
better into consuming channels at
present. There have been some gains
made in canned kraut and bulk kraut,
too, is proving an attractive foodstuff
because of its low cost. Buying has
not reached the volume yet where
higher prices are asked, but packers
believe they will do so soon.

moving

Vinegar—A routine business is being
done in vinegar. Replacements are
being made on a fairly broad scale, but
buying on the whole appears to be
below the volume usually done at this
time of year. Stocks in the hands of
distributors are light and a continued
fill-in business is indicated for the
future.

——o->-—__
Review of the Produce Market.

Apples—Current quotations are as
follows:

Spies, A Grade. 22 $2.75
Spies, Commercial -_-.-.------_- 1.65
Spies. Baling 0s ae 2.50
Spies, Baney 220 eee ee 4.00
Baldwins, A Grade ~.._----------- 2.25
Baldwins, Commercial ~-_------ 1.50
McIntosh, A Grade —---------- 2.50
McIntosh, Commercial ~------~_ 1.50
. (Banana, A Grade oo 7.22 2.00
Banana, Commercial ~-...----_- 1.25
N. W. Greenings, A Grade ------ 1.50
N. W. Greenings, Commercial -- 1.00
R. I. Greenings, A Grade 1... 2.00
‘R. I. Greenings, Commercial ---. 1.25
‘Grimes Golden, A. Grade ~----- 1.60
Grimes Golden, Commercial .--- 1.00
Jonathans, A Grade -----.--____ 2.25
Jonathans, Commercial ~-_.---_- 1.50
‘Talman Sweets, A Grade ------_- 1.75
Talman ‘Sweets, Commercial -..- 1.25
Hendricks Sweets, A Grade ---~ 1.50
Hendricks ‘Sweets, Commercial ~- 1.00
Pewaukee, A Grade ~.---.------ 1.60
Pewaukee, Commercial .__----- % 1:25
Starks. A Grade 223 1.60
Starks, Commercial ~..-..._-__- 1.25
Cooking Apples, all varieties _-__. 1.00

Bananas—5%4@6c per lb,

Beets—65c per bu.; new from Texas
80c per doz. bunches.

“Butter—The market is the same as

a week ago. Jobbers hold 1 tb. plain
wrapped prints at 29c and 65 Ib. tubs
at 28c for extras and 27c for firsts.

Cabbage—75c ‘per bu.; new from
Texas, $2.25 per crate of 80 Ibs.

Carrots—65c per bu.; new from Cali-
fornia, 75c per doz. bunches.

Cauliflower—$2.25 per crate of 12 to
16 home grown.

Celery—Florida stock is $1.75 for 2
doz. box and $4.25 per crate.

Cocoanuts—80c per doz. or $6 per
bag.

Cranberries—Late Howes, $4 per 4
bbl. i

Cucumbers—No. 1 hot house, $1.50
per doz.

Eggs—Jobbers pay 16c for strictly
fresh. Storage operators offer their
supplies this week on the following
basis:

MM candied 2... 2-2) os 15¢
Me candied: 2 i llc
Cheeks 252 oe 10c
Grapefruit—Marsh Seedless from
Texas is sold as follows:
Sa ee $4.00
G4 eee 3.75
7 Se 3.50
SQ 3.25
Extra fancy sell as follows:
SA ee $3.25
G4) 3.00
Mee 3.00
SO eee 3.00
OO SC a 3.00
Bulk, $3.25 per 100 lbs.
Choice is held as follows:
A ce es $3.00
64 ee ee 3.00
AO ee 3.00
SO ee 3.00
OG ee 3.00
Grapes—$5 for Calif. Emperors in

32 Ib. kegs.
Green Onions—60c for shalots.
Lettuce—In good demand on the
following basis:
Imperial Valley, 4s, per crate ___-$3.75
Imperial Valley, 5s, per crate ___. 3.75
Hot house leaf, in 10 lb. baskets_. .65
Lemons—To-day’s quotations are as
follows:

S60 Sunkist 20 $6.25
S00 Sunkist 20200 6.25
$60 Red Ball 9 5.25
500 Red Ball 2 0. ee — wag

Limes—$1.75 per box.
Oranges—Fancy Sunkist California
Navels are now sold as follows:

2G ee a ees $4.00
P50) 2 ee 4.00
L7G, aS ae ee 4.00
AGU 20st 4.00
IG ee a ee 4.00
298. ee Peek ede ey la 4.00
2OG ee 4.00
DAG ee eee 4.00
lows:

Floridas extra fancy are held as fol-
26 ee ee $3.50
PSG oo ee 3.50
Ge ee 3.50
200) ee 3.50
2iG ee 3.50
Ape ose ee ee 3.25
DOR ee 3.25
eG ee oe ee ee 3.25

Florida fancy are held as follows:
126 oe a $3.25
P50. 2 eee ee 3.25

5
6 che 3.25
SO 3.25
Mh Scio scgkcane begs 3.25
77. et ets ce 3.00
MG 3.00
Se 3.00

Bulk, $1.75 per bu.

Onions—Spanish from Arizona, $1.75
per crate; home grown yellow in 100
lb. sacks, $1.

Parsley—50c per doz. bunches,

Peppers—Green, 50c per doz. for
California.

Potatoes—Home . grown, $1.10 per
bu.; Wisconsin, $2.25 per 100 Ib. sack;
Idaho, $2.50 per 100 Ib. sack; 75c per
25 lb. sack.

Poultry—Wilson & Company pay as
follows:

Barly Spremgs 220 20c
Eibeavy. fowls 22522205. 18c
hight fowls 2.0.00 15c
Biche 2022 ee 14c
Geese 2 12c

Strawberries—30c per qt. for Florida
fruit.

Sweet Potatoes—Indiana, $3.50 per
bu.; Tenn., $2.75 per bu. Both are
kiln dried.

Tomatoes—$1.50 per 6 lb. container,
‘Southern grown.

Veal Calves—+ Wilson & Company
pay as follows:

Haney 2050-0 o 13%e
GOOG. 2 See 2 10c
Medium {2.2 8) 2 8c
Poop 220 ee 8c
—_——_.2.-
Standards of Practice For Trade
Journals.

The publisher of a business paper
should dedicate his best efforts to the
cause of business and social service,
and to this end should pledge himself:

1. To consider, first, the interests
of the subscriber.

2. To subscribe to and work for
truth and honesty in all departments.

3. To eliminate, in so far as pos-
sible, his personal opinions from his
news columns, but to be a leader of
thought in his editorial columns, and
to make his criticisms constructive.

4. To refuse to publish “puffs,”
free reading notices or paid “write-
ups;” to keep his reading columns in-
dependent of advertising considera-
tions, and to measure all news by this
standard: “Is it real news?”

5. To decline any advertisement
which has a tendency to mislead or
which does not conform to business
integrity.

6. To solicit subscriptions and ad-
vertising solely upon the merits of the
publication.

7. To supply advertisers with full
information regarding character and
extent of circulation, including detailed
circulation statements, subject to
proper and authentic verification.

8. To co-operate with all organiza-
tions and individuals engaged in cre-
ative advertising work.

9. To avoid unfair competition.

10. To determine what is the high-
est and largest function of the field
which he serves, and then to strive in
every legitimate way to promote that
function.

——_+++__—

The best sign of a big man is his
readiness to praise good work in
others,

 

 

BUYING TO SELL.

 

How It Is Accomplished By a Ken-
tucky Dealer.*

The old adage, “Goods well bought
are half sold’ still holds good to-day,
provided the goods are of the right
kind and are suited to the requirements
of the trade territory. Sometimes mer-
chandise bought at a price is not half
sold when that merchandise is becom-
ing obsolete, or when it is not adapted
to the trade territory for which it was
bought. Buying merchandise to-day is
a part of the management end of the
business, and can be classed in im-
portance with control and all the other
important phases of management.

The first thing in connection with
buying the merchandise, and to my
mind one of the most important, is
determining consumer requirements.
For the past two or three years our
National Association has been advo-
cating a trade survey, and I know of
no better way to get a correct picture
of the trade requirements of your ter-
ritory then through a campaign of this
kind. Personal calls on your customers
on their own ground will not only give
you a-better insight into their wants
and needs and their buying habits, but
will go a long way toward building
customer good will and loyalty. There
is no better way to get customer re-
quirements and needs than from the
customers themselves. About three
years ago, before my return from the
house furnishings show in January, I
conceived the idea of mailing a ques-
tionaire to a selected list of about 250
good housekeepers, asking them about
the things they were interested in for
Spring and about the items they would
like to have a special price on during
our February sale of house furnishings.
I also asked them to mention items
that they would like to buy in a store
like ours and. to suggest new items
that we might stock. When I had pre-
pared the copy for this questionnaire,
I took it to the printer, and he very
promptly gave me the horse laugh.
He told me that he had mailed out a
number of questionnaires and had never
gotten a return sufficient to justify the
expense. J went right ahead with the
questionnaire, and mailed it out with
a stamped envelope enclosed. The next
day the returns began to come in and
they came in for ten days. Some of
these questionnaires were covered with
suggestions and I want to say to you,
gentlemen, they were eye openers to
me. They were a wonderful: guide to
me in making purchases for that spring

- business. The only mistake I made
was that I did not offer a little souve-
nir of some kind for the return of the
questionnaire. As it was, I got sixty-
three of them returned, but firmly be-
lieve I could have had a 50 per cent.
return if I had done this. Try this
some time in your own store if you
want to get the surprise of your life,
‘and if you want to find out what the
good housekeepers. of the community
think of your store as a base: of sup-
plies for them. In 90 per cent. of the
returns on my questionnaires, the
woman said that the reason she liked
to shop in the chain store and depart-

*Paper read at hardware convention by
Veach C, Redd, of Cynthiana, Ky.

MICHIGAN TRADESMAN

ment store was on account of the fact
that the merchandise was displayed on
tables and counters with price tickets.
Only about 10 per cent. of them gave
price as their reason for shopping there.
but every one of them mentioned clean-
liness and orderly displays both inside
the store and in the windows.

Now that buying has been reduced
to almost a science, suppose we con-
sider for a few minutes the funda-
mentals of buying. In my own experi-
ence and observation, I find that when
I have followed these fundamental
principles, I have very seldom gone
wrong. The first and most important,
of course, is whether or not the mer-
chandise is adapted to my trade terri-
tory and whether or not it is what my
customers want. We have already dis-
cussed that phase. For the second
fundamental, I like to ask myself the
question, “Has the item popular ap-
peal? Will it appeal to the great ma-
jority of customers who come into my
store? Will it be a fast turning item
of universal use or just another item
I am forced to carry because I call
myself a service institution.

The next question which always
pops up is whether or not it is a real
value. A knowledge of the competi-
tion in my territory will settle. that
immediately, and we will discuss that
phase a little later on. The next ques-

tion to decide is the popularity of the -

price. You know what prices people
are willing to pay in most of your lines.
The last thing to consider is whether
or not it is correctly and attractively
packaged and labeled. Hundreds of
thousands of pounds of 60 cent choco-
lates have gone to the consumer at
$1.50 per pound because of the at-
tractive package and many a good item
has gone begging because it was wrap-
ped in an unattractive package or was
put out with a poor label.

-The subject of price lines is so close-
ly interwoven with a knowledge of
competition that to my mind the two
should be consideredd together. How-
ever, there seems to be a_ certain
amount of psychology in pricing mer-
chandise. The department stores have
taught us this in pricing their mer-
chandise with prices ending in odd

- figures like 7, 8, and 9. A hardware

dealer told me the other day that he
had three dozen cheap nail hammers
which he had been pricing at 50 cents
for about six months. He decided to
try something different, so he made a

. window display and put the stock on
. one of the front counters with a 59

cent price ticket on them, and they
moved out in four days. Most of us
know that very frequently an item will
move readily at 19 cents when a price
of 15 cents does not seem to bring
the right kind of reaction from. the
consumer. We are all familiar with the
fact that 49 cents is more popular than
45 cents and $2.95 is more frequent on
the price cards of the department stores
than $2.75 or $3. A _ study of. price
lines in buying goes back again -also
to a study of consumer requirements
and buying power...Most of us have

- a great many_more customers who. will

buy.a $&25Biskwns mower -than who
will pay-$22.50 for one. Consumers
shouldbe. divided_into different price

groups on account of the difference
in their purchasing power.

Probably the most serious problem in
any store to-day is lost sales from
goods being out of stock, even in the
face of improved transportation meth-
ods, and the ability to get goods in a
hurry. So much has been Said in the
last two or three years, and particular-
ly during the last twelve months, about
turn-over, and hand to mouth buying,
that in my opinion the subject has been
overdone. As a merchant and the pur-
chasing agent for your community if
you care to call yourself such, you owe
it your customers to have the merchan-
dise they want and need, when they
want it, rather than offer them excuses
for items being out of stock. Probably
the most serious part of this hand-to-
mouth buying propaganda is the fact
that it has extended to stavle every
day items About two years ago the
president of one of our large jobbing
houses told me that every morning
there is laid on his desk a list of the
items which were shorted on orders
shipped the day before. The buyers
for these items are called in for an ex-
planation as to why the goods were
shorted. He also told me that those
buyers don’t relish sessions of this
kind. Like every other store we have
a want book on the desk at our cash
register, and until about a year ago we
were unable to keep up with outs. To-
day every member of our sales force
has a definite job to do and a certain
department to look after and keep up
the stock and to keep the counters full
of merchandise. This has resulted in
the elimination of the greater percent-
age of the outs and the best thing it
has done has been to put new enthusi-
asm and pep into the sales force, on
account of the added responsibility
given them. You can’t expect your
organization personnel to function 100
per cent. unless they have some definite
responsibility and know what that re-
sponsibility is. There is a woman in
my store who has charge of the house
furnishings and china and glassware
stock. It is her job to keep the stock
clean, to keep the counters and tables
filled with merchandise, to help with
the buying, and to watch the trend in
sales, and to report new items called
for, that we are not stocking. That
woman is wrapped up in her work and
has increased the number of women
customers who come into our store to
such a point that these departments
are the fastest moving, best paying
lines in the store. I believe that every
one of you who are featuring these
departments are making a serious mis-
take if there is not a lady on your
salesforce. A week’s check up on the
volume of sales lost on account of
goods being out of stock:might be an
eye-opener in your store if you tried
it sometime. You know the old story
of the wolf is coming. Customers quit
coming after their patience has been
tried too long.

If your hardware association ceased
functioning to-morrow morning you
owe them an everlasting debt for the
service they have given you in stock
control, even if you had never taken
advantage of any of the other services,
which I know you have, and realize
their value.: Otherwise you would not

February 25, 1931

be present in this convention this
morning. Take the tool study as an
example. How many merchants really
knew the rating or sales importance on
this line. I think I would be safe in
saying that every one of us have al-
ways. carried twice as much stock as
our business in this line justified. Last
fall while out on group meetings I
found a hardware dealer who had just
completed his inventory, and had over
$300 invested in pliers alone. The same
thing was true all the way through his
tool line. Think what a diligent study
of the best sellers and the right stocks
would have meant to that man, in his
investment and stockturn. Mr. Gal-
laher was on your program yesterday.
I am sorry that I did not hear- his
message. I had the privilege to eat
dinner with him one evening during
our convention in Louisville. During
the course of the conversation, Mr.
Gallaher told me that he has already
‘made a recommendation to some of
his jobber friends that they star these
best selling items in their catalogues.
One of the largest enameled ware
manufacturers in the .country is al-
ready doing this in one of his lines of
popular priced ware. It is very inter-
esting to note that in some of the
cases the larger items which are the
fastest movers are priced considerably
lower than some of the smaller items
in the same line. This price is a re-
flection of the adjustment of his pro-
duction to the faster moving items.
Think what this would mean if carried
out through the-tool line also, for the
average dealer and the manufacturer.
Both dealer and manufacturer could
eliminate the slow movers, reduce their
investment in stocks, and at the same
time get more volume on account of
lower prices, and less frequent outs
on the better selling items. I under-
stand our National office is now work-
ing on a rating chart of the best sellers
in house furnishings. Any of us can
use this to advantage. Speaking of
enameled ware a moment ago reminds
me of some very startling things we
discovered in our own store through
the use of stock control on this line.
It has been the means of eliminating
all the slow movers and we have re-
duced our line of gray ware to exactly
the same items carried in the chain
and department stores, with the re-
sulting lower investment, faster turn
and no odds and ends. Stock control
also revealed the ten best sellers in our
better grade lines and we are now buy-
ing these items exclusively. Most of
you remember the old days when every
dealer bought enameled ware assort-
ments and most of you can remember
the pile of odds and ends which were
left over after a special sale. Control
‘also. revealed the fact that the better
lines of enameled ware which we were
retailing at 50c were moving too slow
_ to justify our investment in them, We
threw out this line and substituted a
line of smaller utensils in a trifle lighter
weight to retail at 25 cents each and
have had a very substantial increase
in volume, due to the change. Smaller
families are responsible for this trend,
and it is a very significant one «that
should be watched in other lines.
Speaking of trends reminds me that
we first got our idea of the best selling

Ce

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eyes
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i

 

February 25, 1981

MICHIGAN TRADESMAN

7

 

color in enameled ware from the sales
in inside finishes in the paint depart-
ment. This craze for color in my
opinion is here to stay, although in the
future some of them may be a little
more subdued than in former years.
Stock control has also reduced our
investment and speeded up our turn
in house paints. By reason of this, and
our nearness to our source of supply,
we were able last year to get a very
remarkable rate of turn in our paint
department.

How many of us have bought mer-
chandise in the past only to find that
after the invoice was checked and the
goods put into stock, some of our com-
petitors have even sometimes the same
item or something very similar which
will answer the purpose at a_ very
much lower price and a bad impression
is created for the store then and there.
In my opinion it is very much better
not to stock an article, especially the
highly competitive ones, than to stock
it and have the price out of line with
competition. How to get it: you have
an object lesson every business day in
the year right under your nose in your
own town. If you haven’t any of this
competition in your own town, don’t
get the idea that it isn’t taking some
of your business. It is, in these days
of good roads and other improved
means of transportation. The lady in
charge of our house furnishings devart-
ment spends part of her lunch time
every” day in the chain stores and keeps
us posted on prices of the items women
buy. A trip through a chain store or
department store once a week will
open your eyes. I want to make a
statement now that may seem a little
extravagant to some of you, and some
of you may not agree with me, and
that is this: no matter what your com-
petitive problem may be and on what
item it is, with, of course, the excep-
tion of some of the footballs and loss
leaders with which we are all familiar,
somewhere there is a source of supply
where you can buy that merchandise
to meet the competition and have a
margin of profit left. This will, of
course, depend on how well you have
managed your store, how you pay vour
bills and how closely you work with
your supplier. This brings me down
to another division of my subject, that
of the search for price. A study of
competition and the search for price
with which to meet it, have to me al-
ways been the most fascinating part
of my business. Take, for instance, in
crockery. For the last two or three
years since we have had such violent
chain competition, we have depended
almost solely on the jobber for his
dropped patterns which he gives us at
a price which will enable us to meet
this competition and still have a mar-
gin left. The Woolworth manager in
my town is a friendly enemy of niine.
He told me the other day in my store
while he was visiting with me that this
was a decided advantage which the in-
dependent has over the chains. He

_ went so far as to say that if their man-

agers have any initiative, they are
powerless to use it.

dise and their sales plans are exactly

like a Sears & Roebuck cut price house.

They are all cut out in New York and
laid down for them and they must fol-

Their merchan- ~

low them to the letter. Very rare, in-
deed, are the cases where we are un-
able to buy merchandise to meet our
competition, and I want to tell you
one of the reasons in a few minutes.
I believe that most of you who do not

make one or two trips to market each -

year are makirg a serious mistake, par-
ticularly those of you who are featur-
ing house furnishings, china and glass-
ware, Our trips to market have been

-the means of our making some very

desirable connections, on these lines
particularly. When I have finished
talking, I wouldn’t like to have you
call me a moon-eyed optimist, any
more than 1 would want you to say
that I am a squint-eyed pessimist. I
have been accused of everything else
but the latter. I can’t help believing
that a brighter day is ahead for the
independent merchant who merchan-
dises as aggressively as his competi-
tors. I would even go so far as to
say that the chain store and mail order
house have lost their ‘““‘whoopee.”’ Some
one said that the independent lost his
when Sears began paying freight last
year on their merchandise. I would
not go so far as to say that you will
buy as cheap as the chains and mail
order stores. It will not be necessary,
hut you will be able to buy at a price
which will enable you to meet or beat
the competition you have. Your whole-
saler will be a bigger help to you in
the future than he has ever been. He
is waking up to the fact that he is
dependent upon the independent for
his bread and butter. Something hap-
pened in his business in 1929, a thing
which stands out as very significant
to me. The year book of the Depart-
ment of Commerce for the year 1929
shows that, in spite of the enormous
expansion of chain store and depart-
ment store retailing, the independent
stores of the country, as a_ whole,
showed an increase in sales, while sales
of the wholesaler declined. I believe
he will be more willing and ready in
1931 than ever before to work with
you and help you solve your problems,
provided you do your part in co-operat-
ing with him.

I like the word co-operation. I won-
der sometimes what Elbert Hubbard
had in mind several years ago when
he had this to say about the word:
“Before co-operation comes in any line,
competition is pushed to a point which
threatens destruction and _ disorder.
Then to avert ruin, men devise a bet-
tér way, a plan which conserves and
economizes, and behold it is found in
co-operation. I take it that the great
majority of you who live in the better
towns, have at least ten to twelve trav-
eling men calling on us every week.
They are all high type men, and rep-
resent the foremost jobbers and manu-
facturers of the country. Have you
ever stopped to think how much time
you waste if you give each of these
men a hearing, to say nothing of the
duplications in merchandise stocks, the
extra office work, and the extra in-
vestment in odds and ends in mer-
chandise. This is not the biggest
thought in connection with the propo-
sition. None of those suppliers are
getting a steady. stream of orders from
you, when you are buying from all of
them, none are interested in help-

 

ing you with a_ highly competitive
problem. What right have you to ex-
pect help in the way of special prices
to meet your particular problem of
competition, when you are responsible
for high prices by scattering your pur-
chases over a dozen different sources
of supply when two or three could
take care of you to better advantage.
L don’t know that any of you are
guilty. If you are this is a good time
to start concentrating. Suppose you
select a nearby, convenient source of
supply, tell the heads of that busines:
what you are going to do and then do
it. Just see what happens to your ac-
count when that supplier begins to
grow; when your supplier gives you a
special price to fight your battle and
you use it in the same manner in which
it is given to you. Don’t try to stick
the extra profit down in your pocket
and defeat the purpose and at the same
time drive customers away from your
store. A friend of mine a long time
ago told me that it was a great deal
more important to make a_ business
connection than to make a deal. No
matter how hard you may drive a bar-
gain, be sure that you are making a
connection which will be worth some-
thing to you in the future, when you
need it With all this talk about big
business and about its being a cold-
blooded proposition, I still believe that
every jobber and manufacturer has a
personal interest in the welfare and
the success of his customers and that
not every one of them has ice in his
veins. As a matter of fact, co-opera-
tion is nothing more or less than team-
work, and team-work in distribution is
the theme of this convention. Some-
body has said that this is a “back-
scratching” age. You tickle me, and
T’ll tickle you. After all, Iam wondering
if the one great fundamental of busi-
ness to-day and the solution of the
greater part of our problems could nct
be found in that great fundamental
principle laid down over 2,000 years
ago by the greatest teacher and busi-
ness man the world has ever known,
when He said: ‘““Whatsoever we would
that men should do to you, do ye even

so to them.”
¥ Se

Victorian Wall Paper Styles Lead.

Spring wall paper orders now reach-
ing manufacturers from retail and jeb-
ber accounts show a decided trend to
early Victorian patterns. These de-
signs are outselling other types by a
wide margin. The low level of prices
prevailing this season has brought

medium and high-quality goods into
much wider demand. Washable papers
priced from 15 to 20 per cent. lower
than last year, are selling freely, it
was said.

Consumer buying of wall

paper is scheduled to open up late this
month and dealers are now rounding
out their stocks,
——_+~+<-____
Better Grade Lamp Sales Off.
Demand for bronze base and other
lamps retailing in the high-price brack-
ets is the dullest experienced in some
years. The heavy emphasis put .on
low-end goods, coupled with the busi-
ness slump, is responsible for the situa-
tion, they said. Selling agents for pro-
ducers of bronze, pottery base and oth-
er type lamps which can be retailed at
$3 to 8 report business improving
steadily. Re-orders received since the
lamp show in Chicago early last month
have been above last year’s average
although the quantities purchased on
individual orders continues small.
———_>>~>___
Men’s Fall Clothing To Be Cheaper.
With lower woolen and worsted
prices forecast for Fall, men’s clothing
manufacturers, who have been laying
out their sample lines, are preparing
to make reductions in their price rang-
es. In this respect they are making
every possible effort to shave operat-
ing expenses, as cloth is the only item
in their costs which will be lower.
There is no immediate prospect that
wages will be reduced, it was said. Fall
lines are expected to be opened about
the middle of April.

 

1876 1935

INVESTMENT
SECURITIES

Our experience in over 55
years may be helpful to
_you in your selection of
securities for investment.
Write for suggestions.

E. H. ROLLINS
& SONS

Founded 1876

Grand Rapids Savings Bank
Building, Grand Rapids

New York Chicago Philadelphia
San Francisco Los Angeles Boston
London Paris Milan

 

 

 

Corduroy Tires

Known from the Canadian Border to the Gulf—and from New
York Harbor to the Golden Gate—the Corduroy Tire has in ten
years gained a reputation for value, for superlative performance
and dependability that is second to none!

The Corduroy Dealer organization dots the nation’s map in
metropolis and hamlet.
allegiance to the Corduroy Tire because of long years of unfail-
ing tire satisfaction to the motorists of the country.

Go to your Corduroy Dealer today. Ask to see the tire. Big-—-
Sturdy—Handsome in all its strength and toughness, the Cor-
duroy Tire: will sell itself to you strictly on its merit.

CORDUROY TIRE CoO.
Grand Rapids, Mich.

It is an organization that swears

 

BETTER HOMES.
Government publications aré pro-
_ verbially dull, but, that they are capable

of bright. spots is proved by one en-

titled “Vocational Education in Home
Economics,” which tells the story of
twelve years of education in home eco-
nomics under the National vocational
education laws. Class instruction in
some subjects may fail to be evidenced
in a practical way outside of the school-
room, but home economics is evidently
more than living up to its name, since
it is enlisting whole families and not
simply the boys and girls who are being
instructed. One girl received the co-
operation not only of her family but
also of the representative of the loan
company which owned the farm on
which the family lived. His interest
was aroused to such a degree that he
offered to help any tenant's daughter
who enrolled in the vocational home-
economics courses, on condition that
she do all-of the planning herself and
as much of the work as she was able.
Here is the condensed story of what
followed:

This project started by the girl's
taking over the care of the kitchen. A
few startling facts were discovered,
one of which was that it took from
40 to 50 minutes a day to scrub the
kitchen floor. The total time consumed
in this piece of work for one week im-
pressed her father and mother so much
that by the end of the week the girl
was mopping bright new linoleum in-
stead of scrubbing an old splintery
floor. The increase in comfort and at-
tractiveness of their home and the sav-
ing in strength and time gave the
whole family a new interest and
brought about more improvements.
The tops of built-in tables were cov-
ered with oil cloth and the landlord
was appealed to for some improve-
ments. He became interested and
bought a sink on condition that they
install it and bui'd a cesspool. _

By this time, the representative
from the loan company began to see
other ways of improving the value of
his place. He came
offered to help this particular girl
financially or otherwise with her proj-
ects and as a result a landscape project
was started. An unsightly old cistern
near the house was dug out, the hole
filled and the place seeded. After the
lawn was extended to the back of the
house, the kitchen steps seemed so
rickety that they were repaired. es
hedge was put in front along one side
of the yard, and a planting of roses
was placed on the other side. The
representative of the loan company of
his own accord sent several dozen
bulbs to be set out. byt as soon as the
tulips and daffodils came through the
ground the chickens nipped them off.
This was discouraging, but a determ-
ination to have flowers resulted in a
new fence. Again, the representative
of the loan company came to the as-
sistance and brought the steel posts and
ornamental fencing necessary. The
men of the family pt it up as they
could find time during the summer.
This, however, called for another im-
provement as the only gate from the
yard led into the barnyard. Another
one was built in the front, and a foot
bridge put up across a small irriga-
tion ditch which runs between the front
yard and the road. This home-
economics student definitely outlined
and worked out her projects in the
winter, but the entire family continued
working all summer.

All this because Uncle Sam pointed
the way and gave some instruction.
The Chief of the Home Economics
Educatino Service, Miss Adelaide S.
Baylor, unlike many principals and

to school and~

 

MICHIGAN TRADESMAN

superintendents of education, has no
occasion to wonder whether the work
in which she is engaged is bringing

“ results.

 

GAINS ARE HELD.

Little change is noted in the general
business situation except that some
small gains have been held. Basic
activities in the aggregate have main-
tained their level, as indicated by the
very slight advance in the weekly busi-
ness index. Hopes are entertained
that a slow recovery has started, but
sentiment in general seems to be a
little disappointed that more progress
has not been made.

Sentiment has also been affected ad-
versely, it seems, from the fears arous-
ed by opponents of the veterans’ loan
plan. In many ways they have dis-
torted this proposal and caused an
anxiety which does not appear war-
ranted. As less biased commentators
have pointed out, the money borrowed
under this plan would be less than in-
surance companies lend and probably
go immediately into consumption chan-
nels. There is a good deal of ques-
tion whether Government finance or
the bond market would suffer, and
there is certainly little difference be-
tween such payments and the huge
loans pressed for building expansion,
according to those who see no objec-
tion to the plan.

Employment conditions, as reflected
by recent statistics, have disclosed lit-
tle improvement. In fact, there has
been some further recession reported
here and in Illinois. For instance, the
free agencies reported 330.5 workers
for every 100 jobs last month as against
a ratio of 270 in December and 257.2
in January, 1930.

About the best news of the week
was the increased call for automobile
steel, the rise in copper prices and a
gain in building. The latter is running
about 23 per cent. under a year ago, but
at 27 per cent. over the December rate.

Commodity prices are still weaken-
ing. The Annalist index standing at
111, a drop of eight-tenths of a point
for the week. This weakness and the
agricultural situation are probably the
two chief factors standing in the way
of a quick recovery.

 

PSYCHOLOGY PLUS.

“Whether at any given point it
should be said that business reflects
the stock market or that the stock
market reflects business is always a
quesion for debate. Doubtless in the
jong run the stock market will take
its cue from business rather than the
reverse, but the two influences actu-
ally react upon each other, and there
can be no doubt that the swing of
stock prices is an important factor in
shaping public psychology.”

Every one will recognize the sound-
ness of these remarks, which were
made in the February bulletin of the
National City Bank. But it is perhaps
not sufficiently noticed that the part
which any definite upswing of stock
prices is calculated to play in promot-
ing the recovery of business is in-
comparably greater in the present sit-
uation than it has been in any former
period of depression. People have al-
ways watched the fluctuations of the

stock market for signs of business
recovery, and when they thought they
saw them the resulting psychology did,
of course, have some tendency to, bring
about the fulfillment of the forecast.
But to-day something enters into the
case much more potent than mere psy-
chology of this kind can be.

For the fact is that, for the first time
in history, the rise and fall of stocks
directly and seriously involve the per-
sonal fortunes of millions of individ-
uals—not speculators but investors—
probably as many millions as any
former period could show hundreds of
thousands. Of these millions a very
considerable proportion underwent, af-
ter the stock market collapse of 1929,
what was on its face a loss of half,
and sometimes much more than half,
of the wealth which they had counted
upon as a provision for their future.
This inevitably had the effect of great-
ly restricting their current expendi-
tures; and this restriction was bound
to continue so long as the prospect of
recovery of what they had lost remain-
ed as dark and uncertain as it has
been during the past eight or ten
months. And by the same token, when-
ever the stock market definitely as-
sumes a character which seems to
give assurance of a return to some-
thing like the old values of securities,
these people will once more feel that
they can loosen their purse-strings
without endangering their future com-
fort. How great will be the stimulat-
ing effect of the flood of everyday ex-
penditure which will thus be turned
into the channels of retail business, and
thence into wholesale business and
manufactures, it requires no argument
to show.

 

RETAIL MARK-UPS TOO HIGH?

Out of the maze of problems con-
fronting retailers in these troublesome
times there is emerging a rather defi-
nite idea that mark-up practice must
be overhauled. Not a few executives
are convinced that the trend toward
higher mark-ups to take care of in-
creased expenses has nearly reached
its limit. The business has violated
the cardinal principle that volume will
grow only as margins are reduced. In-
creasing margins will choke expansion.

One of the primary faults, it has
been pointed out, lies in starting off
the sale of an article at a high mark-up.
This may be justified when the product
has exceptional style value so that
the public is only paying a premium
to have what is very new. In these
days of fast-moving styles, however,
the time factor for enjoying this new
style is much less than it was. The
new style quickly meets an imitation,
so that the basis for the premium price
is no longer as sound as it was if the
past.

Following this high mark-up period,
an article slips to lower prices and
may have to be closed out at cost or
considerably less than cost. The arti-
cle started too high in price and wound
up too low. If it had been started at
a lower figure, what would have been
the chances of selling more? Would it
have been necessary to close out the
merchandise? Isn’t the average retailer
usually so afraid that his average may
be too low that he puts his original

February 25, 1931

prices too high, so that sales aresre-
stricted until it becomes necessafy to

_take drastic mark-downs?

These and similar questions are

»being studied by executives, and it is

to' be hoped that traditional policies
‘may not too seriously ‘hamper reaching
the proper conclusions.

 

THE AIR MAIL DEFICIT.

The prospective postal deficit for
next year is $150,000,000, according to
the Postmaster General. Of this, the
air-mail service will account for at
least $20,000,000. This country is by
now accustomed to a deficiency in
postal revenues, for there has been a
deficit every year since 1920 and in
most preceding years as far back as
1830. But the shortage thas been in-
creasing rather alarmingly. In 1910 it
was less than $6,000,000; in 1920 it was
about $17,000,000; five years ago it was
$40,000,000. In 1930 the figure had
soared to $91,714,450 and it is still ris-
ing.

The Postmaster General is aware of
his responsibility for nearly a fourth
of next year’s National deficit. He is
compelled to consider all possible
economies in his department. He says
it is necessary to “justify the expendi-
tures now being made for domestic
air-mail service if we are to continue
its operation.” Reduced rates, radical
economies in air-mail operation and a
higher degree of efficiency are de-
manded by the situation, and the avia-
tion interest must give their best efforts
to achieving these things or they will
be in danger of losing their best cus-
tomer—the United States Government.
They have been generously helped with
public money for several years, but no
business enterprise can subsist forever
at the expense of the Treasury and
the taxpayer.

 

DRY GOODS CONDITIONS.
While there was a little pick-up to-

‘ward the week-end, retail trade is run-

ning well under normal and_ the
month’s results so far are even a little
below those in January. To meet this
situation the stores quite generally are
increasing their promotion efforts. The
continued emphasis on price is deplor-
ed, but retail executives see no other
way of contending with a reduced de-
mand, especially as so many customers
are in straitened circumstances.
Smaller stores are bearing the brunt
of reduced volume for several reasons.
These firms have not been so quick in
reducing prices to lower cost levels and
they have not the resources to pay for
promoting new values even when they
are in a position to offer them. An
analysis of business failure last month,
made by R. G. Dun & Co., indicated

“an increase of almost 33 per cent. in

the “traders” group over the same
month last year. Failures of mariufac-
turers dropped 10 per cent.

Toward the end of 1930 it was fore-
seen that January and February would
be difficult months for retail trade and
plans were prepared for numerous pro-
motions. So many of these sales have
been held that there seems to be some
justification for the view that the pub-

‘lic is “sales weary.” However, the in-

troduction of Easter offerings will! re-
lieve this monotony,

 

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February 25, 1931

MICHIGAN TRADESMAN

 

OUT AROUND.

Things Seen and Heard on a Week
End Trip..

William R. Moody, son of the world
famous Dwight L. Moddy, who prob-
ably carried the gospel of Christ to
more people than any man has ever
done before or since, sends me a copy
of his remarkable biography of his
sainted father, to which he has de-
voted much of his time for the past
ten years. The book comprises 556
pages and it probably presents more
authentic facts concerning the great
evangelist of the last century than any
other writer will ever be able to mar-
shal. With the time at my disposal it
will probably require several weeks to
complete its perusal, when I will un-
dertake to review it the best I know
how. In the meantime I urge all my
-eaders who feel an abiding interest in
the career of America’s greatest evan-
gelist to order the book at once and
peruse it with care and thoroughness.
The price is on!y $3.50, which is very
reasonable for so large and compre-
hensive a volume. If ever a son en-
tered upon such a duty as a labor of
love I think this biography affords an
excellent example.

William Moody has several close
ties with Grand Rapids. He was a
classmate with and is a_ personal
friend of James Barnett, the lawyer, at
Yale college and he has long been a
close personal friend of Rev. M. E.
Trotter, who has made a practice of
attending the Bible conference at the
Moody Institute at East Northfield,
Mass., several years. On one of his
visits to Grand Rapids he accompanied
Mr. Trotter to Lamont and spoke in
the seventy-five year old Congregation-
al church which was dismantled to
make way for the summer home of the
Stowe family.

One of Mr. ‘Moody’s greatest suc-
cesses in the evangelistic line was in
St. Louis in the winter of 1879-80. He
was heartily supported by. the Globe-
Democrat, then the leading daily news-
paper of St. Louis, which. printed his
sermons verbatim every day for sev-
eral months, which resulted in creating
a tremendous interest in the revival,
which resulted in several thousand con-
versions. Mr. Moody always ta’ked
very fast—225 words per minute—and
found but one stenographer who could
get every word of his discourses.
The person referred to was the daugh-
ter of the editor of the Globe-Demo-
crat, who subsequently removed to
Grand Rapids, where she resided many
years as Mrs. Harriet Udell, the first
wife of the late Corwin S. Udell. Mrs.
Udell was a remarkable woman in
many ways. She could put more
meaning into a recitation or reading
than any other person I have ever
known. Her services were much
sought by literary organizations. She
has been dead more than thirty years.

 

Dwight Moody’s father was anything
but provident. He died at 41 years of
age, leaving his wife and four children,
with. an impoverished farm which was
heavily mortgaged. The family were
Unitarians in religion and the mother

brought up the children in accordance
with the best traditions of the New
England morality of that period. Qne
of Mr. Moody’s earliest undertakings
was to drive a neighbor’s cows to pas-
ture in the morning and bring them
home after school.

_

I was relating this incident to Lee
M. Hutchins, President of the Hazel-
tine & Perkins Drug Co., the other
day, when he scratched his head and
told me of a somewhat similar situa-
tion he experienced in his boyhood
days. A neighbor had a cow which
chummd with the cow of the Hutchins
family. The neighbor suggested that
Mr. Hutchins drive his cow to pasture
mornings and bring her back at night,
for which he would pay him liberally.
The proposition was accepted and at
the end of the pasturage season in the
fall the owner of the cow, who was a
daguerreotyper, presented Mr. Hutch-
ins with a daguerreotype of himself,
which he still retains. He says 25
cents would have been much more ac-
ceptable, but, of course, he was in no
position to resent the well-meant action
of a neighbor.

 

Speaking of Trotter reminds me that
he has voluntarily relinquished ali
claim for salary from the City Mission
during 1931. He received the usual
amount of subscriptions to keep the
institution going during the present
year, but the expense of feeding 175
hungry men twice a day during the
fall and winter—and perhaps longer—
is making such a heavy draft on the
funds of the Mission that he has erased
his name from the payroll. This means
that the only income he will receive
this year, aside from the proceeds of
his savings in previous years, must
come from the revival meetings he puts
on in other cities. His services along
this line are in active demand, but he
confines his activities to four cam-
paigns per year. This sacrifice on Mr.
Trotter’s part may be common among
evangelists and charity workers, but it
is the only case I have ever had the
pleasure of chronicling in the Trades-
man. In fact, my acquaintance with
religious leaders generally leads me
to believe that they usually insist that
their salaries shall be treated as pre-
ferred claims to any funds which come
to their organizations. We have many
concerns masquerading under the name
of charity dispensers, but I know of
only one man in the business who
thinks of others before he considers
himself. That is why I have gone to
some personal inconvenience every
year for many years to raise $1,500
among the friends of the ‘Mission to
assist in the wonderful work it is doing
in this community to help those in
need of assistance, regardless of re-
ligious affiliations or lack of religious
affiliations. Much of the money con-
tributed to charity work in times like
these is wasted, because the recipients
of the funds have no organization to
work out the problems presented. No
one need fear that money, food or
clothing sent to the City Mission will
not be properly applied or that gifts
will be converted into cash and divert-
ed into improper channels, as is the
case with a great organization which

For this service.
he received one cent per week.

is very flamboyant in its claims, but
very deficient in performance.

 

Ate Dykstra, the shrewd old fox who
represents the West side (Grand Rap-
ids) in the Michigan House of Repre-
sentatives, has introduced a sales tax
bill which embodies the proviso that
the tax is not to apply unless the mer-
chant’s sales are in excess of $100,000,
as follows:

Lansing, Feb. 17—A graduated sales
tax aimed at the operations of chain
stores in the State is provided in a bill
being introduced in the Michigan Leg-
islature to-night by Representative
Dykstra, of Grand Ranids. The meas-
ure follows in many respects pro-
posals of the Michigan Home Defense
League, an organization of independent
merchants with local leagues in sev-
eral Michigan cities. :

Representative Dykstra admitted that
his measure would strike most heavily
at the large chain organizations with
headquarters outside the State. Most
independent merchants, he said, would
escape the bill’s provisions or pay but
a light tax if it were enacted. All
special taxes would be deducted from
the sales levy so that firms incorporat-
ed in Michigan and paying a corpora-
tions tax would have a large exemption.
General property taxes would not con-
stitute an exemption, however.

The proposed tax, based on gross
sales, would be: one-twentieth of 1 per
cent. of sales of $400,000 or less; 2-20
of 1 per cent. between $400,000 and
$500,000; 5-20 of 1 per cent. between
$500,000 and $600,000: 8-20 of 1 per
cent on $600,000 to $700,000; 11-20 of
1 per cent. on $700,000 to $800,000; 14-
20 of 1 per cent. on $800,000 to $900,-
000; 17-20 of 1 per cent. on $900,000 to
$1,000,000, and 1 per cent on all gross
over $1,000,000.

Receipts from the tax would go into
the general fund to relieve the prop-
erty tax burden. Mr. Dykstra could
not estimate the probable amount the
levy would yield:

A penalty of 2 per cent., plus 6 per
cent. interest, if collected before resort
to the courts, would be assessed for
non-payment of the levy when due. An
additional 20 per cent. would be im-
posed if collection was taken to court.
Violations would subject a merchant
to a maximum penalty of six months
in jail or $1,000 fine.

Mr. Dykstra is too shrewd a man to
present such a proposition in good
faith, because he knows that the ex-
emption set forth in his measure makes
it class legislation, which the Supreme
Court invariably sponges off the books
at the first opportunity. In view of
this condition, which has ‘been a mat-
ter of common knowledge for years, I
am surprised that my friend Dykstra
should resort to such an expedient,
which can only result in disaster to the
merchants who undertake to enforce
such a measure. I am in favor of
every movement which will help the
merchant—personal, mass or legisla-
tive—but I cannot support any action
which is fundamentally unsound and is
sure to be held unconstitutional by the
Supreme Court.

I have recently had my attention
called to a recent case of duplicity on
the part of the A. & P., which has been
the experience of every one who has
undertaken to do any business with
that organization ever since it was es-
tablished in 1859. It recently induced
a Michigan food producer to accept its
order for a quantity of goods on a
definite. agreement that it would not
permit the retail price to be cut below
the figure at which the independents

sold the goods for. No sooner did it
get the goods in stock than it simul-
taneously cut the price 23 per cent.
The manufacturer immediately notified
the A. & P. that it could have no more
goods until it restored the price to the
regular figure, which will undoubtedly
be done for a time, only to be violated
again as soon as a good distribution
has been accomplished in the A. & P.
stores. The adage that no one can
touch pitch without being defiled aptly
applies to any dealings any decent in-
stitution may have with the dissemblers
who manage the A. & P.

 

Sauntering down South Division
avenue one day last week I was at-
tracted by the inviting appearance of
the Ryskamp Bros. market and drop-
ped in to look around. I found one of
the most complete grocery and meat
emporiums I have had the pleasure of
inspecting for some time. The busi-
ness was established in 1919 by Jacob
Ryskamp and E. D. Conger under the
style of the Katz ‘Market Co. At that
time one store only was used. Mr.
Conger subsequently retired, to be
succeeded by fout= brothers of Mr.
Ryskamp when the firm name was
changed to Ryskamp Bros. Markets.
Three stores are now occupied :at 55, 57
and 59 Division and branch stores are
maintained at 115 'South Division, 746
Franklin street and 757 West Leonard
street. One of the brothers is in
charge of each of the stores. A build-
ing across the alley from the main
store is used for making sausage. Mr.
Ryskamp says he has no ambition to
start any more stores; that he thinks
the present line-up is about right for
his organization and considering the
number of his associates. The main
store is a model one in many respects
and: should be visited by grocers who
are seeking information along modern
and progressive lines.

 

In common with many Grand Rapids
men I have heard so much discussion
over the auditorium location that I ac-
tually dream about it at night. For-
tunately for the city and all concerned
a recent dream showed me how the
matter could be settled in a satisfactory
manner. The only requirement is that
Joseph Brewer announce that he will
buy the location on the East side of
Grand River for $405,000 and make the
city a present of it, the only condition
being that he be permitted to connect
the Pantlind Hotel with the auditorium
by an underground tunnel. This would
enable the city to utilize all of the $1,-
500,000 bond issue for the construction
of the auditorium and thus the people
of Grand Rapids would realize their
fondest expectations in regard to the
project which has been uppermost in
their minds for the past year. As to
Mr. Brewer’s ability to do this there
is no question. He came into posses-
sion of three million dollars a few
years ago, which current report says
he has more than doubled by judicious
investments. Naturally, he will want
to leave something handsome to the
city of his adoption when he dies. Here
is an opportunity for him to hand it
over to the city at a time when the
municipality needs help more than it
ever has before or probably ever will
again. Such a gift would make him

amiss Bei mrt

 

10

MICHIGAN TRADESMAN

February 25, 1931

 

the most popular citizen Grand Rapids
has ever had. We can erect a monu-
ment to his memory before he dies, as
Fort Wayne did in the case of Col.
David N. Foster. Incidentally, the
location of the auditorium is so con-
venient to the Pantlind Hotel, of
which Mr. Brewer owns a controlling
interest, that the future of that famous
hostelry would be assured. This dream
costs Mr. Brewer nothing unless he
decides to act on it.

 

My first caller Monday morning was
Fred B. Keister, publisher of the Ionia
County News, which is known far and
near as one of the best county news-
papers in the United States. Owners
of stores fronting on the main street of
Ionia have been so greedy for high
rents that they have induced chain
stores to invade Ionia to such an ex-
tent that there are now more chain
stores than independents. As a result
of this invasion, Ionia does not stand
as high in business circles as she did
when the bulk of the retail ‘business of
the city was conducted by high class
independent merchants who used the
local newspapers and conducted their
stores on standard principles, instead
of the high handed practices now in
vogue’ by the chains. Mr. Keister has
suffered by this invasion of alien own-
ership, alien management and cheap
merchandise, but he does not have to
continue in such an environment. His
reputation as an enterprising publisher
and city builder is such that he can
take up his abode in a community
where personal service and high grade
ability are welcomed and amply re-
warded. It will be a sorry day for
Ionia if Fred Keister ever decides to
shake the dust of Ionia from ‘his feet,
because the good people of Ionia will
never find another publisher who is his
equal. Mr. Keister did not discuss any
of the above subjects with me when he
called at the Tradesman office, but I
think I could have induced him to do
so by a little encouragement, because
I can sometimes see conditions without
being to!d about them. I go to Ionia
often and every time I traverse the
main street of the city and note how it
has been prostituted to chain store
purposes I wonder how the real estate
owners could be so short sighted as to
destroy the morale of their town. by
filling it full to overflowing with alien
institutions.

 

In this department last week I stated
that the plans made for the new city
(Grand Rapids) auditorium would not
include any arrangement for space for
exhibition purposes. Robinson & Cam-
pau, the architects who are preparing
the plans, inform me they have suc-
ceeded in arranging for 50,000 square
feet for that purpose on the ground
floor and 15,000 feet above the ground
floor, which is about half the amount
of space contemplated when the struc-
ture was first proposed. The seating
capacity of the new building is about
5,000, as compared with about 2,800 in
the armory.

The daily papers announce the death
of John Fitzgibbon, the veteran news-
paper man of Detroit, at the age of 71.
Deceased started his newspaper career
in 1882 as a protege of the late James

E. Scripps, founder of the Detroit
News, and never worked for any other
paper. When Mr. Scripps died he in-
serted a paragraph in his will that Mr.
Fitzgibbon was never to be discharged
from the employ of the News; that any
time he wished to retire he he paid his
full salary as long as he lived. Un-
aware of this condition, a newly in-
stalled manager of the News informed
Mr. Fitzgibbon when the office of the
newspaper was removed to its new
location that he was no longer on the
payroll, but would be retired on a pen-
sion. John said nothing, but quietly
moved his little old desk to the most
desirable corner in the editorial room
of the News. The manager thereupon
repeated his statement that Fitzgibbon
was no longer on the payroll and that
his desk would not be tolerated in the
new building. John said nothing. The
next morning, when the manager ap-
proached John in an angry mood and
undertock to remove him from the
office, John asked the manager if he
had ever read Mr. Scripps’ will. On
receiving a negative reply, John pulled
a copy of the will out of his pocket and
pointed to the paragraph relating to
himself. It is needless to say that the
manager immediately reversed his at-
titude and permitted John and his little
desk to remain in the office until he
died.

I hope every grocer and meat dealer
will arrange to attend the annual
meeting of the Retail Grocers and
Meat Dealers, which will be held at
Ann Arbor April 29 and 30 and May 1.
Like other State mercantile organiza-
tions, the grocers and meat dealers
have permitted their association to lag
during the past year or two. This is a
good time to right about face and start
in on a new career of usefulness. I
hope there will be a generous response
to this appeal. E. A. Stowe.

——_+~+~-+___
No Higher Hose Prices Expected.
While hosiery prices have been

showing a firmer tendency and_ talk
of price reductions has died down,
trade observers do not regard any gen-
eral advance in the immediate future as
likely. Silk has been uncertain after
its recent advances and, until sharp
gains are made, there is no basis for
higher prices. Stocks on hand con-
tinue heavy. If the hosiery strike in
Philadelphia continues for any length
of time, observers believe it will have
a strengthening effect. But in the
meanwhile developments are not suf-
ficiently definite to indicate clearly the
strength of the strikers.
—_-o oor

Electrical Goods Move Slowly.

Sales of electrical household appli-
ances this month are still consider-
ably behind the volume for last Feb-
ruary despite a slight increase in buy-
ers’ orders this week. Jobbers and re-
tailers have been cautious in placing
Spring orders and some selling agents
estimated yesterday that at least 80
per cent. of the regular Spring busi-
ness remains unplaced. Activity is con-
fined almost entirely to sales items for
immediate delivery. Prices on regular
goods remain firm as producers are
confident that merchandise will move
in normal volume once the Spring buy-
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February 25, 1931

MICHIGAN TRADESMAN : i

 

To Swat the Chains.

Organized with the purpose of
resisting and fighting the “‘ever-
increasing menace of the chain
store systems, the National
Chamber of Associated Merchants
has been granted a charter under
the laws of the District of Colum-
bia. Headquarters of the organ-
ization are in the Investment
building, Washington, and it is
now actively engaged in building
up its membership.

The fact that former Senator
John F. Nugent is president and
Frank White treasurer indicates
that the organization will be a fac-
tor in the anti-chain legislation
that is expected to claim much of
the attention of the next session
of Congress. Mr. White is a for-
mer United States Treasurer.

Last Tuesday William J. Mc-
Ginniss, secretary of the new
chamber, explained that the or-
ganization is soliciting member-
ships from trade associations and
manufacturers with an interest in
legislation against chain enter-
prises, and among individual mer-
chants in both the wholesale and
retail fields. He said that the two-
fold purpose of the chamber is to
act as a clearing house for the
collection and dissemination of
information on the subject of
chain distribution, and to bring
the influence of all interested as-
sociations, manufacturers and dis-
tributors to a focus in the intro-
duction of, and for the informa-
tion of, Congress in the consider-
ation of suitable legislation.

Regardless of the failure of
many similar organizations during
the last two years, the chartering
of the National Chamber of As-
sociated Merchants is a strong in-
dication of the preparation being
made to promote anti-chain leg-
islation. Several Congressmen
who will serve first in the next ses-
sion were elected on anti-chain
platforms, and it is said that num-
erous others are waiting for the
Federal Trade Commission's chain
store report to frame anti-chain
bills. The depression has strength-
ened the political position of the
independent retailers, and there
is no doubt that the next Congress
will give attention to a variety of
proposed laws against the chains.
Consequently, it may be safely
assumed that it will require the
alert interest of intelligent busi-
ness men in all parts of the coun-
try to prevent Federal legislation
that will be harmful to general
distribution.

—_2 22s
Ann Arbor Grocers Planning For Big
Meeting.

Ann Arbor, Feb. 20—I am writing
vou that through the columns of your
trade paper, the Ann Arbor grocers
and meat dealers may acquaint the gro-
cery and meat dealers in other cities
and towns of the fact that the next
State convention of grocers and meat
dealers will take place in Ann Arbor at
the (Million Dollar ‘Michigan Union
April 29 and 30 and Mav 1. The con-
venton will close on Friday night with
final high school debate on the chain
store question as has been debated by

all the high schools of Michigan this
year.

We have adopted this slogan for the
present:

“Ann Arbor local calls the retail gro-
cers and meat dealers of Michigan to
Ann Arbor April 29 and 30 and May 1.”

Our program is in progress and we
hope for its completion within a short
time. Will keep you informed from
time to time.

The Ann Arbor local is offering a
cash prize of $25 to any member of the
Stateror local association for the great-
est number of memberships obtained
to the State organization. New mem-
bers or re-instatement of former mem-
bers will be counted. The contest will
close April 15.

Anyone wishing to know further of
our plans address the Ann Arbor local
or the writer. You will hear from me
again in a few days as our plans
progress. Wm. Schultz,

Chairman Convention Committee.

—_~+~+.__
A Town Wide Survey.

In Kendallville, Ind., 6,000 popuia-
tion, a hardware dealer has had a paint
expert call on every home owner in
town. The caller introduced himself as
the paint man at this hardware store.
He did not try to clinch a sale at the
call. His purpose was to sell the idea
of painting, then sell the paint depart-
ment of that store as the place for in-
telligent information on painting and
as the logical local headquarters for
good paints and good brushes. This
man kept a card index record of his
interviews. From this data a direct
mail campaign, newspaper campaign
and personal appeal campaign were
formed. Sales in the paint department
are about $12,000 a year. Auto ena-
mels bring in another $700. The paint
ambassador at the homes found many
leads for other departments and was
directly responsible for the sale of
linoleum, vacuum cleaners, washers
and many other profitable lines and at
the same time gave the store an anal-
ysis of the paint sales market in Ken-
dallville.

—_>++__
Greater Call For Plate Glass.

Greater activity in the plate glass
field and a further readjustment of
window glass selling prices were out-
standing among the week’s develop-
ments in the flat glass industry. The
stimulus both in number and size of
orders for plate glass is to be attribut-
ed entirely to revival of activities in
the automobile industry, as consump-
tion by other principal consuming in-
dustries continues in unusually light
seasottal volume. The revised dis-
counts on window glass are effective
from Feb. 19. The revision is the
second to be made this Winter. The
demand for window glass is holding
recent slight gains.

——_2-____

Expect Renaming of Sheet Prices.

Reports that wide sheeting and sheet
prices would be reaffirmed shortly by
the leading producers are current in
the market. It is not revealed what
deliveries will be specified in any re-
statement of quotations, but manufac-
turers are expected to give assurance to
buyers that no price change from the
last list issued is contemplated in the
near future. The market has been un-
settled by price shading on the part’ of
producers of the lesser brands and
second hands, but the recent stability in
cotton has strengthened quotations
somewhat,

Our —

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To sell no chain

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To sell no
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T

ONC ey,

PURITY ATS COMPANY

KEOKUK IOWA

To sell no desk
jobbers

 

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This policy backed by
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Purity Oats is your
weapon against ‘“‘bar-
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types of indiscriminate
selling.

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PURITY OATS COMPANY

KEOKUK, IOWA

 

PRESS FOR SALE

Plate distribu-
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Campbell Century press, 28 x 42. Four roller.

Will sell cheap for cash. Correspondence solicited. Tradesman

Company, Grand Rapids.

 

 

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Crathmore Hotel Station, Phone 81138 Grand Rapids, Michigan

 

Phone Automatie 4451

WHOLESALE FIELD

SEEDS

Distributors of PINE TREE Brand

ALFRED J. BROWN SEED COMPANY
25-29 Campau Ave., N. W.

GRAND Rapips, M1cH1GAn

 

 

 

 

 

 

12

FINANCIAL

Fixed Trusts Gain Recognition.

The proposal of the New York Curb
Exchange to arrange for admission of
fixed trust shares to trading privileges
presents interesting possibilities.

 

The fact that the second largest se-
curity exchange in the country is con-
sidering such plans represents more
than a movement to provide a central
market place for securities of this type.
It is unquestionable recognition of the
tremendous growth in this field: and
of the widespread distribution of fixed
trust shares.

Listing of the shares will introduce
for the first time this class of securi-
ties to speculators and it is probable
Curb members will arrange for pur-
chases of the trust shares on margin
for the first time. :

Admission of fixed trust issues,
moreover, will provide an additional
source of income for members in the
form of commissions, providing trad-
ing volume compares favorably to the
amount of shares outstanding. Hun-
dreds of millions of dollars worth of
fixed trusts have been sold outright to
investors’in the last year or two.

Thus a situation will be created
somewhat similar in results to the
secondary distribution plans recently
adapted by the Stock Exchange. In
other words, Curb members may share
in the profits of distributing organiza-
tions which are selling direct to invest-
ors fixed trust shares on a large scale.

An advantage for the investor in the
arrangement is that a market will be
provided where he may dispose of his
holdings at a moment’s notice whether
or not the firm sponsoring the shares
continues in business until termination
of. the trust agreement.

Introduction of fixed trust shares to
an established market is expected in
some quarters to stimulate sales for the
reason that it will provide a newspaper
record of transactions that may be
followed in all parts of the country.
Many newspapers that print the daily
Curb list do not publish quotations on
investment trusts.

What effect possible margin buying
may have on prices of these securities,
usually determined by day-to-day price
changes of the listed underlying stocks,
remains to be seen.

William Russell White.
[Copyrighted, 1931.]

ee
Stocks Gain By Bonus Action.

Apprehension over the possibility of
a large Government bond issue in con-
nection with soldiers’ bonus proposals
in Congress has been reflected mainly
in the bond market. Bonds have suf-
fered on the theory that a comparative-
ly high interest rate of 4 per cent. or
more which might be necessary to at-
tract investment funds on so large a
scale would depreciate the value of
other fixed-income securities and ab-
sorb capital which otherwise would
have gone into other securities.

In the stock market, however, bulls
have seen a double-edged argument in
their favor. Settlement of the bonus
problem through some moderate com-
promise, or by passing up the pro-
posals entirely, doubtless would re-
move an overhanging fear from finan-
cial interests which have been trying

MICHIGAN TRADESMAN

to build up the bond market as a source
of capital instead of the stock market.
Relief probably would be expressed in
resumption of plans for new enterprises
financed through bonds.

On the other hand, as stock market
bulls view the outcome, distribution of
$500,000,000 or $1,000,000,000 to World
War veterans probably would stimulate
consumptive demand immediately and
bring about some inflation in values of
consumption goods and possibly quick-
en the pace of residential building.
Stocks, naturally, would be chief bene-
factors from such a turn, although
financial leaders have warned that a
period of temporary inflation ultimately
would prolong the process of readjust-
ment which has been going on for
more than a year.

Shares most likely to benefit from
distribution of money to veterans
would be those of the chain stores,
mail order houses, automobile manu-
facturers and other companies supply-
ing consumptive demands. The lead-
ing mail order stocks, Montgomery
Ward & Co. and Sears, Roebuck &
Co., particularly, have been picked as
likely to be outstanding benefactors.

The automobile industry anyway has
been looking for improvement this
year and the placing of so much ready
cash in the hands of the army of vet-
erans probably would give a fillip to
demand for cars.

The return of money to old channels
as result of credit ease and abundance
of funds seeking investment outlet
have ‘been counted on to bring about
a revival of building activity and the
movement doubtless would be stimu-
lated by disbursement of money
which would enable veterans to make
initial payments on homes.

The two leading Stock Exchange
issues in line to benefit from improve-
ment in building are American Radiator
and Johns-Manville.

[ Copyrighted, 1931.1}
—____~» 2 9
Strong Sentiment Against Any More
False Advances.

Wandering too far in chase of the
rainbow is a temptation the stock mar-
ket will resist if it keeps in mind two
sad ventures of the last year when
colors on the horizon seemed bright.

Two months of rising stock prices
are creating an inquisitive skepticism
that did not come a year ago until the
advance was five months old. Despair
resulting from the discovery in April
last year that the stock market since
the panic had been chasing a rainbow
left its lesson. New despair when the
summer’s rise collapsed drove home
the lesson. Men want no more dis-
appointments. They have become, let
us hope, a little cautious. Market
jiggles interest them less. Underlying
conditions more.

Evidence of the changed psychology
toward the market that this early 1931
stock bulge meets is expressed in a re-
mark you will hear everywhere you go
in Wall Street these days whether it
be to see a bank president or a humble
speculator in any customers’ room:

“This market is fine. We have had
a nice advance. But I hope it doesn’t
go much higher right away.”

“Why?”

It is a question that brings its in-
evitable answer.

 

February 25, 1931

 

 

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Phone 4267

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_-—

February 25, 1931

MICHIGAN TRADESMAN

13

 

“Because,” he will say, “I don’t want
to go through another break. No-
body wants the market to go up more
than I do, but I don’t want my hopes
aroused by another false move.’”’

Now reduced to slanguage of the
economist, what the banker and humble
investor everywhere are saying is that
no good comes from chasing rainbows
in the stock market. Accordingly they
are subjecting the present movement
upward in stocks to a scrutiny they
did not know in 1930 much less 1929.

They are not denying the possibility
that underneath the surface an im-
provement in business is forming. They
are quite willing to acknowledge that
the decline in industry seems checked.
What they desire not to do is to fol-
low the market too far up on a hope
of recovery until evidence. comes to
light that improvement in business is
no figment of the imagination but an
actuality. . Paul Willard Garrett.

[Copyrighied, 1931.]
—_»>++—__

Commodity Decline Accounts For Part
of Decline.

Our import and export trade flow in
January did not introduce the evidences
of improvement that were manifest
here and there in domestic business
but fell instead to new low levels.

Merchandise exports from this coun-
try in January at $250,000,000 presented
a shrinkage from $273,000,000 in De-
cember and $410,849,000 a year ago
to the poorest American export volume
witnessed for any month since the
war. You get a picture of our shrivel-
ing exports if you compare last month’s
total with $528,400,000 for October,
1929, the pre-panic month.

There is statistical evidence of the
world-wide scope of the depression that
has tightened its hold on American
business which in recent’ times had
come to move a substantial part of its
product in foreign markets.

Ever more important is it to know
how our exports down through the
years will expand in sufficient volume
to stimulate American prosperity ex-
cept through an even greater growth
in imports from abroad or in a redis-
tribution of gold. But in January: im-
ports into this country fell sharply, and
instead of moving out gold continued
to flow in. Merchandise imports for
January of $183,000,000 presented a
shrinkage from $209,000,000 in Decem-
ber and from $310,968,000 a year ago
to the lowest for any month since
1921.

Even allowing for the recession in
commodity prices, a decline which in
itself has been operating to cut down
the trade valuation figures, the new re-
ports of trade with foreign lands stress
the world aspects of this depression.
They put into the hands of optimistic
internationalists a compelling docu-
ment tending to show how emergence
for this country from depression might
come through an expansion of exports.
But it simultaneously leaves unanswer-
ed an important unknown element in
the equation.

Is there any great hope for increased
merchandise experts without increased
merchandise imports or without an
exodus of yellow metal?

Paul Willard Garrett.
[Copyrighted, 1931.]

U. S. To Announce Big Issue March 2.

The first official information on the
pending financing by the United.States
Treasury was given to-day with pre-
liminary notices from the Treasury
Department to the New York Federal
Reserve Bank setting the date on or
about March 2.

The notice of the pending offering
and the methods of filing subscrip-
tions presumab!y refers to the major
operation planned to refund $1,100,000,-
000 in 3% per cent. notes that have
been called for March 15. The Treas-
ury does not follow the practice of
giving advance notice of calls for tend-
ers on discount bills, so it is assumed
that the statement refers to bonds or
certificates of indebtedness.

Government bond specialists believe
that the refunding of the 34 per cent.
notes will involve both a long and a
short term offering. There is some
talk of a $500,000,000 issue of ten to

fifteen year maturity bonds bearing in-

terest at 344 or 3% per cent. It is sug-
gested that the remainder of the neces-
sary $1,100,000,000 could be obtained
through shorter-term borrowings.

The approval by the House of Rep-
resentatives of Secretary Mel!on’s peti-
tion for the authorization of $8,000,-
000,000 in additional issues has no bear-
ing on the pending issue, but refers to
plans for the refunding of nearly that
amount in First Liberty 3%2s and 4'%s
and Fourth Liberty 4%s. The Fourth
4%4s5 may be called after 1933 and the
two First Liberty issues after 1932.

Significance is seen in the approval
of the $8,000,000,000 refunding in is-
sues exempt from the surtax. Of the
three issues to be pared down, only the
Liberty 3%s at present carry that fea-
ture.

—+>+>__
A Business Man’s Philosophy.

Sometimes it takes far more courage
to admit defeat than it does to hang
on. It is said that only a few stock
market speculators have the courage
to take losses deliberately. The ma-
jority have to be sold out.

Few of us care to hear the bitter
truth; our ears are open only to pleas-
ant news.

The world would not go far without
faith, but intelligence and a sense of
proportion are needed, too. The man
blessed with both faith and intelligence
is unbeatable, whereas faith without
intelligence is merely a form of
stupidity. William Feather.

—_~++--—____
Praise From a High Source.

O. H. Bailey, leading grocer and
meat dealer of Lansing and Treasurer
of the Retail Grocers and Meat Deal-
ers Association of Michigan, writes as
follows:

Enclosed find check for next year’s
subscr'ption to the Tradesman. I re-
ceive more good sound business sense
and vital information to a grocer in
your publication than all other pub-
lications combined. .

ge ig

It doesn’t take long for the manager
to spot the bluffer; if it did he would
not be manager fong.

22> i
Give a‘ man self-respect ‘and you
have increased his capacity for work.

— 27+ >____
Debt breaks more men than hard
work,

 

 

 

The Measure ot a Bank

The ability of any banking institution
is measured by its good name, its financial
resources and its physical equipment.

Judged by these standards we are proud
of our bank. It has always been linked
with the progress of its Community and
its resources are more than adequate.

Q

GRAND RAPIDS SAVINGS BANK
“*The Bank Where You Feel At Home’’
16 CONVENIENT OFFICES

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

GRAND RAPIDS NATIONAL BANK
i

 

 

 

Established 1860—Incorporated 1865 — Nine Community Branches

GRAND RAPIDS NATIONAL COMPANY

Investment Securities
Affiliated. with Grand Rapids National Bank

 

 

 

 

14

MICHIGAN TRADESMAN

 

February 25, 1931

 

VAGARIES IN AGRICULTURE.

 

Difficulty in Marketing a Five Acre
Squash Crop.

If my recollection serves me, it was
fifty years ago in time, and the habitat
of this adventure was Burton Farm,
pretty well known to Grand Rapids
people. Because I was engaged prin-
cipally in the promotion of the State
Horticultural Society and the erection
of branches in the various parts of the
State, my time was so fully occupied
that I found it desirable to have a
foreman of the farm who did not shrink
from taking responsibilities. So I en-
gaged Fremont E. Skeels, a graduate
of the Agricultural College and a good
friend, to take immediate charge of
farm operations. We worked nicely
together, we were both accused of be-
ing dreamers, and there were many
incidents which justified the accusa-
tion.

A factory had ‘been organized on
what was then North Canal street for
the evaporation of fruits and vege-
tables—a new and what seemed to be
a very desirable process was the basis
of the concern. It started out with
great promises for utilizing our surplus
vegetables and fruits and converting
them into commercial products of
estimable value. A lot of us took stock
in it and shared in the vision of the
promoters.

In a visit to the factory one day. I
enquired of the manager if they had
ever thought of evaporating winter
squashes, and he said they had per-
formed some experiments along that
line and were satisfied they could put a
very fine product on the market. I
enquired further if I would be justified
in growing a crop of fine Hubbard
squashes to be delivered to them at
the harvest and if the company would
engage to take my crop. He respond-
ed very promptly in the affirmative
and said if I would grow the crop he
would take care of it. This was sim-
ply a verbal arrangement and Garfield
and Skeels entered enthusiastically in-
to the plan.

We had ten acres of ground admir-
ably suited to the purpose which we
expected to plant to sweet corn. Under
the stimulus of the squash suggestion
we shifted our plans and because we
had a lot of very fine Hubbard squash
seeds of our own selection, we planted
the whole ten acres to Hubbard squash.
Two or three years previously we had
taken first premiums at the fairs when
we had exhibited Hubbards, and we
had very carefully selected seeds from
the finest specimens.

The field was planted and very soon
after the squash plants appeared our
troubles began. As soon as the third
and fourth leaves came on the plants,
the striped beetles appeared in myriads.
We had experimented a little in the
use of flowers of sulphur as an anti-
dote and because it was cheap material,
we invested in enough sulphur so we
were warranted in using it freely over
our squash field. The odor of sulphur
was in the air, and attracted the atten-
tion of the neighborhood. Even the
young lads going to Seymour school
became interested in it and made fun
of it. When a couple of them had a
scrap and they were tempted to use
language that was not warranted by

their family connections, in their wrath
instead of saying, “You go to hell,”
they would say, “You go to Burton
Farm squash field.” And, of course,
using the term usually changed the
current and anger was transformed to
hilarity.

It was a dry season and constant
cultivation had to take the place of
rainfall for many weks. The method
was successful, our crop grew apace
and there was a splendid set of squash-
es. We followed every modern meth-
od of procedure which occurred to us
and among other things we carefully
nipped the end of the vines instead of
allowing them to grow rampant, al-
ways cutting them off just beyond the
setting of a fruit.

We wanted some fine specimens for
the fair and at that time size counted
very largely in the decision of the
judges. So we sought to grow some

specimens of extraordinary size and_

went so far as to feed some of them
new milk by a process of our own. We
made a little slit in the vine near a
fine looking squash and with the aid
of a piece of cotton and capillary at-
traction, we transfused the growing
vine with lacteal provender. It work-
ed, and we had some of the finest
specimens of Hubbards I ever saw.
When fair time came, we made our
usual entries and, of course, carried
off the premiums.

I had not consulted the evaporating
plan until it was near harvest time.
And then I told them that we had a
fine crop of squashes and when should
we begin the delivery and how rapidly
would they take them? To my aston-
ishment the manager said that he had
been experimenting in the attempt to
peel the squashes by machinery, as he
had found that it was thoroughly im-
practicably to do it by hand and make
a profit on the enterprise. To my
chagrin his experiments in machinery
were not successful and he did not
have a method of peeling the squashes
that was usable. Of course, he shrug-
ged his shoulder and said, “I can’t take
your crop as I hoped to do because of
this difficulty which I have encoun-
tered and which I have not been able
to demonstrate over.”

When frost began to show itself on
the “pumpkin vine,” we gathered our
crop. There were squashes to the
right of us, squashes to the left of us,
and squashes everywhere on the farm.
They were piled up in great heaps.
We made an estimate of the harvest,
and there were five tons to the acre.
We began investigating markets, and
found that locally the market was
taken care of by the ordinary growers.
We looked upon the shipping by car-
loads with some favor, but found no
place to send the product with any
promise of profit. It began to get cold
weather and we had to protect our
piles of squashes by loose hay and
straw. We were at the advent of win-
ter and the squashes were on our
hands.

That was the year that Deacon John-
son, known to everybody in Grand
Rapids, rebuilt the Eagle Hotel. Skeels
and I were both well acquainted with
him and in a small way we talked with
him about furnishing him with squash-
es during the winter and we told him
of our dilemma. He said, “I have a

big basement which I have not yet
planned to use. I am willing to store
your squashes for you if you will let
me take all I need for my hotel as
rental.” As a last resort we accepted
the offer and there was never a bigger
pile of premium squashes in Grand
Rapids than was stored under Deacon
Johnson’s care.

The Deacon had made a reputation
for making the finest pies in the city
and many people took their lunches at
the Eagle Hotel just for the delicious
dessert which he furnished in the form
of various types of pies. This year he
specialized on pumpkin pie made from
Burton Farm squashes. It was popular
and he had the raw material to draw
upon in unlimited quantities. But all
he used for this purpose was scarcely
noticeable in tthe depletion of the
squash aggregation.

During the entire winter Skeels
spent a good portion of his time in
supplying every grocer with squashes.
The price was at a minimum and was
scarcely a consideration, as our main
object was to get rid of the product.

Under the fine atmospheric condi-
tion in the basement of the hotel, the
squashes kept beautifully. They did
not need to be overhauled to eliminate
decayed ones, but there was one re-
sult quite noticeable, that a squash
weighing twenty pounds when placed
in the basement was reduced to half
that weight as we neared the spring-
time. ‘So that with the advanced prices
which naturally came, we were met by
this great reduction in’ weight, so that
the income as a finality was anything
but satisfactory. Anyway there was no
waste, the great pile of squashes was
finally disposed of, and by not charg-
ing anything for the expense of sale,
we counted that we broke even.

It was one of many other experiences
and adventures on Burton Farm which
gave it the reputation of being a
Dreamer’s Paradise. For some years
after this, when our friends wanted -to
create a smile in little gatherings, the
squash story was related with em-
bellishments and always created an
atmosphere of hilarity.

These experiences, as I look back
upon them now, provoke a smile, but
at the time they were sober affairs
when we came to paying the exorbi-
tant taxes upon a farm lying close to
the city. Possibly I may think of
some other adventures that may amuse
the readers of the Tradesman for a
moment, the relation of which will put
more and more emphasis upon my ad-
vice to Bloomer—to beware of the un-
expected which was liable to happen.

Charles W. Garfield.
-———_> <->

The sooner we learn ‘how unimport-
ant we are, the quicker will come our
advancement.

————_ oe —_—_——

You haven’t learned a thing until

you do it without conscious effort.

 

IN

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One of the best retail store bldgs.
will be available for new tenant
March Ist.

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Here is a good opportunity for
a good merchant in a darn good
town.

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SARLES

Detective Agency
Licensed and Bonded
Michigan Trust Bldg.
Grand Rapids, Mich.

 

 

 

 

FRIED CAKES
A Delicious Home Made Product
WHOLESALE and RETAIL

MAPES FRIEDCAKE SHOP

No. 1 N. Div. Ave., in Basement
Phone 48822

 

 

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Investment Bankers

Change
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Fenton, Davis
& Boyle

Mid ~ West
Securities
Corporation
Investment Bankers
DETROIT

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Phone 61366

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SALES CO.

SPECIAL SALE EXPERTS
Expert Advertising
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February 25, 1931

MUTUAL FIRE INSURANCE

Change of Interest May Void Insur-
ance on Store.

Generally speaking, fire insurance
policies covering ‘business property ex-
pressly stipulate that any change in the
interest or ownership will void the
policy. And, where this is the case,
when there is any change in the inter-
est or ownership, the merchant should
be very carefui to notify the insurance
company, so that the proper correction
may ‘be made upon the policy.

Here is a danger point that is fre-
quently overlooked by merchants who
read a clause of this kind to mean that,
unless there is an out and out sale of
the property, there is no violation of
the terms of the policy. In other
words, they may take it for granted
that so long as they have an interest in
the property insured the policy will
protect them. This is not always true,
as witness a case that arose under the
following facts:

Here, a retail merchant carried a fire
policy upon his stock and fixtures in
the sum of $1,500. This policy, as is
usual in contracts of this kisd, con-
tained the following provision:

“It (the policy) shall be void if any
change, other than by death of an in-
sured, takes place in the interest, title
or possession of the subject of insur-
ance, whether by legal process or
judgment or by voluntary act of the
insured or otherwise.”

While this policy was in force, the
merchant sold out for the sum of $1,500
receiving $400 in cash, with the bal-
ance to be paid by monthly install-
ments which were secured by notes
and a chattel mortgage. The buyer
was given possession, and after he had
conducted the business some time it
was destroyed by fire.

The merchant then sought to collect
under his insurance policy, but as soon
as the insurance company gained
knowledge of the sale of the property
it denied liability urder the policy, on
the ground. of a violation of the pro-
vision heretofore quoted. The mer-
chant sought to justify his position un-
der the claim that he had only condi-
tionally sold the store, and that he
thereby retained title until it was paid
for.

The dispute that followed culminated
in the merchant filing suit on the
policy, and the trial court held with
him and rendered judgment in_ his
favor. However, the insurance com-
pany appealed, and the higher court in
reversing this judgment reasoned as
follows:

“So far, however, as a breach of the
policy stipulated herein above quoted,
is concerned, we are of the opinion the
policy condition was breached, whether
the contract be held to be an uncondi-
tional or conditional sale, as possession
of the property was completely sur-
rendered to the purchaser.

“The provision of the policy against
alienation of the property is reasonable
and valid, and is one of material im-
portance. By the terms of the contract
its violation renders the policy void.
The language here involved in this
contract is plain and unambiguous.
The courts cannot make a new con-
tract for the parties.

“Tf it is thought that the enforcement

 

MICHIGAN

by the court of the plain language of
the contract results in hardship, the
remedy is with the legislative depart-
ment, and not judicial. We have in
this state no statute affecting the ques-
tion so far as our investigation dis-
closes, and none have been directed to
our attention. It results therefore
that in our opinion, under the undis-
puted proof, plaintiff (the merchant)
was not entitled to recover. Let the
judgment be reversed.”

In the light of the facts and holding
of the foregoing case, it is obvious that
when a retail merchant sells his busi-
ness, or makes any contract for its
sale that changes his title or interest
therein, he should look closely to his
insurance policy covering the property.
It is true that the court holdings in
respect to enforcing penalties of this
kind are not in accord; some courts
are more liberal in construing such
provisions in favor of an insured than
are others.

But, just the same, common busi-
ness prudence should dictate care on
the part of an insured in cases of this
character, and a careful examination of
his policy, in respect to stipulations
against changes of interest, title or
possession, should always be made be-
fore any transaction involving same is
completed. If the transaction is such
as not to affect the policy no harm
will result from the examination, and
if the transaction does affect the
policy, the insurance company can be
notified and the rights cf the parties
adjusted without danger of loss of
protection to anyone concerned. Truly,
here is a point that should never be
overlooked when a transfer, change of
title or interest, or even possession, of
a retail store is contemplated by its

own, Leslie Childs.
a
Government Warning Housewives

Against Evaporated Apples.

My story to-day is about the adul-
teration of evaporated apples. Some
time ago, your Government represen-
tative found, by checking the quantity
of materials being received against the
quantity being shipped, that a dealer
was selling more evaporated apples
than he bought. The conclusion was
inevitable from the data secured that
this particular dealer was adding ex-
cess water to increase weight. Well,
one morning your Government repre-
sentative sauntered through the back
door of the establishment and engaged
the elevator boy in conversation as to
the possibilities of securing a job in
that plant. The elevator boy was
friendly enough and gave me some
advice as to how to approach the man-
ager for a job.

Your Government representative told
the elevator boy there would be a
better chance if the applicant had some
knowledge *of dried fruit. The ele-
vator boy volunteered to show me ex-
actly how fruit was handled, and this
of course was what I wanted. My new
friend took me up to the fourth floor
of the establishment, saying on the
way up that he would introduce me to
Mike, the foreman, as his cousin, all
of which was done just as the accom-
modating elevator boy promised. Mike,
the foreman, was a loquacious individ-
ual. He was proud of his accomplish-

TRADESMAN

ments. He proceeded to inform me of
the mysterious ways of treating and
packing evaporated apples. Mike not
only told me, but he showed me how
it was done,

The dried apples were poured out
from bags to make a large pile on the
floor, then a hose attached to a hydrant
was turned on full blast. The water
was sprayed on the large pile of ap-
ples, while three workmen with shovels
turned the pile in the same manner as
concrete is mixed. I said, “Mike, how
can you tell when you have gotten in
all the water the apples will stand?”

He said, “Oh, that’s easy; I can tell
by the feel of the apples.” And picking
up a handful of dried apples, he said,
“You see, I squeeze them in my hand.
As long as they will partially separate
after I open my hand, they will take
more water, but when they stay rolled
up in a ball after the squeezing, it is
dangerous to add more water because
if they are too wet they are liable to
spoil.”

I said, “Mike, how much water do
you get into these apples?”

He said, “Oh, we get the moisture
content up to about 35 or 40 per cent.”

My friends, I had the evidence I
needed. Properly dried and unwatered
apples should contain no more than 24
per cent, moisture. Here was a con-
cern adding an additional 10 or 15 per
cent. of water and selling you that
water at the price of dried apples.
Well,*the Food and Drugs Act was
passed to prevent such frauds and
other cheats. Shipments made by the
concern were sampled and tested and

15

many seizures of these evaporated ap-
ples, adulterated with water, were ef-
fected.

The charge was that the apples con-
tained an excess of water which had
been mixed and packed with them in
such a manner as to reduce, lower and
injuriously affect their quality. No
claimant having appeared for the prop-
erty, judgment of condemnation and
forfeiture was entered and it was or-
dered by the court that the goods be
destroyed. W. R. M. Wharton,

Chief Federal Food Administration.
oe
Corporations Wound Up.

The following Michigan corporations
have recently filed notices of dissolu-
tion with the Secretary of State:
Shredded Wheat Sales, Inc., Detroit.
Gedney & Sons, Inc., Grand Rapids.
Lakeside Fuel & Supply Co., Mt.

Clemens.

Mercantile Stores, Inc., Hillsdale.
Carl Erickson, Inc., Pinconning.
Itter & Reichenbach Roofing Co., Bay

City.

Detroit Electrical Branding Iron Co.,

Detroit,

Bay City Aero Club, Bay City.

Bunnll Agency, Ionia.

Soloman’s, Detroit.

Michigan Whole Grain ‘Mills, Inc., De-
troit.

Wolverine Mfg. Co., Pontiac.

Paper City Tire Service, Kalamazoo.

Fred L. Winter, Inc., Muskegon.

Chaddock Agency, Muskegon.

Fort Pitt Bridge Works, Detroit.

Michigan Petroleum Co., Brown City.

Hannan Charitable Corporation, De-
troit.

Humphreys-McRae Lumber Co., Ewen

Lee Shoe Repair Co., Detroit.

Haas Studios, Detroit,

South Michigan Piggly Wiggly, Battle

Creek.

 

Affiliated with

320 Houseman Bldg.

The Michigan
Retail Dry Goods Association

Insuring Mercantile property and dwellings
Present rate of dividend to policy holders 30%

THE GRAND RAPIDS MERCHANTS MUTUAL
FIRE INSURANCE COMPANY

Grand Rapids, Mich.

 

 

 

OUR FIRE INSURANCE
POLICIES ARE CONCURRENT

with any standard stock policies that
you are buying

The Net Cost is 30% Less

Michigan Bankers and Merchants Mutual Fire Insurance Co.
of Fremont, Michigan

 

 

WILLIAM N. SENF, Secretary-Treasurer

 

 

 

 

16

INDEPENDENT VS. CHAIN.

Ample Proof That Chain Stores Are
Detrimental.

Resolved—That chain stores are
detrimental to the best interests of the
American public.

The Rise and Development of Chain
Stores.

In 1858, the first chain store as we
know it to-day came into existence,
when George H. Hartford organized
the Great American. Tea Company,
now known as the Great Atlantic and
Pacific Tea Co.

Since 1858, and during the years in-
dicated, the following prominent chain
store systems were organized: Jones
Brothers Tea Co., 1872; F. W. Wool-
worth Co., 1879; Kroger Grocery and
Baking Co., 1882; James Butler Co.,
1882; S. S. Kresge Co., 1897; National
Tea Co., 1889; United Cigar Store,
1900; F. & W. Grand, 1901; J. C.
Penny Co., 1902; United Drug Co.,
1902; W. T. Grant Co., 1906; Louis K.
Liggett Co., 1907; Walgreen Co., 1915;
and Piggly Wiggly Corporation, 1916.

Counting all concerns with two or
more units, there are to-day probably
more than 10,000 chain store systems,
with more than 100,000 retail outlets
in the United States. Paul H. Ny-
strom, Professor of Marketing, Co-
umbia University, quoted in pamphlet
distributed ‘by Chamber of Commerce
of U. S., 1930.

At first, chain stores developed more
rapidly in the larger cities, such as
New York, Chicago, Cleveland and
Los Angeles; but in recent years, there
has been a general movement towards
the establishment of chain store units
in smaller towns.

Definition of Term Chain Stores.

James L. Palmer, Associate Profes-
sor of Marketing, University of Chi-
cago, defines the chain store organiza-
tion as “any group of retail outlets
centrally owned and managed. Wheth-
er the group be engaged solely in re-
tailing, or be operated by a manufac-
turer, wholesaler or mail order house
does not matter.”—-From pamphlet
published by the American Manage-
ment Association, 1929.

“The chain store consolidates the
ownership and management of many
units within the same line of merchan-
dise, but with decentralized location.”
—Professor Paul H. Nystrom.

An accurate definition of chain
stores, for the purposes of this debate,
does not include the so-called “volun-
tary chain,” which is a group of inde-
pendent retailers, each of whom owns
and operates his own store, but who
are organized or associated for the
purpose of engaging’ in co-operative
buying and advertising, especially the
latter.

“Best Interests.” This term is broad
in scope, including all interests of a
social, economic or political nature
which are affected by chain stores.

“American Public.” This term is
likewise broad in scope, including the
producer, the consumer, the independ-
ent merchant, and all others whose
“best interests,” as above defined, are
affected by chain stores.

Main Arguments Supporting Affirma-
tive Case.

Chain stores destroy individual op-
portunity in business without effecting

MICHIGAN TRADESMAN

substantial economy in the field of

merchandising.

Chain stores tend to confuse the con-
sumer as to value of merchandise and
as to price saving.

Chain stores tend toward monopoly
and its attendant evils.

Argument.

Chain stores destroy individual op-
portunity in business without effecting
substantial economy in merchandising.

Chain stores discourage the develop-
ment of initiative and personal re-
sponsibility in business.

The testimony of authorities supports
this argument:

Huston Thompson, formerly chair-.

man of the Federal Trade Commission,
has been quoted to the effect that “the
United States has become a Nation of
glorified clerks who take their orders
from above, most of whom never see
the men who were dictating the
policies they are administering.”

The late Senator Frank B. Willis has
been quoted to the effect that “Chain
stores are having their effect on the
small businessmen. There is no longer
the incentive for a young man ‘to enter
business for himself, because if he
does he is soon brought face to face
with a condition in which he is com-
pelled to face business destruction or
else sell out to the chain stores.”—New
York Times, July 21, 1928.

Senator Black of Alabama has been
quoted to the effect that “we are be-
coming a Nation of a few business
masters and many clerks and Srvants.
The local business man and merchant
is passing and his community loses his
contribution to local affairs as an in-
dependent thinker and executive. A
few of these useful citizens become
clerks of the great chain stores, at in-
adequate salaries, while many enter
the growing ranks of the unemployed.”
—Chain Store Age, February, 1930.

Wages paid to chain store employes
limit such development, for

A survey made by the U. S. Depart-
ment of Labor shows that 70 per cent.
of the 6,000 girls in the limited price
chain stores were receiving less than
$15 a week; 44 per cent. were receiving
less than $12; and 25 per cent. failed
to receive “even as much as $10 a week
in the last quarter of 1928.” Only 7
per cent. of the girls earned as much
as $18 a week. This survey covered
179 limited price: stores throughout
eighteen states and five additional
cities —U. S. Department of Labor;
Bulletin of Women’s Bureau, No. 76.

Chain store managers merely carry
out orders from the “central office,”
for

Frank Farrington, writing on the
subject “Meeting Chain Store Compe-
tition” says: “A chain store manager is
manager more in name than in fact.
One of them writes: ‘After ten years’
experience, I am not allowed to use
my brain but they call me manager.
Twice each week I am given instruc-
tions about what to put in the win-
dows, and what to put on the counter.
In fact, we are told everything.’ ”

Paul H. Nystrom says, “the chain
store expert also requires for success-
ful operation of his plans a minute
system of instruction, of inspection
and supervision of the work done ac-
cording to his instructions, Everything
is done by proxy.”

 
     

 

 

 

 

February 25, 1931

 

 

WHY KEEP UP-TO-DATE? i

Here’s one answer. Because it is the up-to-date merchant who is suc-
cessful. No longer is it possible to retain customers if the store equip-
ment is antiquated, the stock unattractive, the shelves disorderly, the
stock untidy.

Terrell steel wall and counter shelving will make your store attractive.
Easily erected from standardized parts, with adjustable shelves, Terrell
shelving is lasting, attractive, flexible, sanitary and economical.

 

LET US HELP YOU MODERNIZE YOUR STORE

TERRELL’S EQUIPMENT
COMPANY

GRAND RAPIDS, MICHIGAN

 

and Crackers

ASTERPIECES _
OF THE BAKER'S ART

 

 

 

 

nlf

(

ae 7 Ty ‘ , ae Wa yp
GE ; Air | al Wy ar

eae.
Orevery occasion

                   

 

 

 

 

ar te dls ln ai aden ne ci teow ili ii

inal erpmsnas i : sibel aia

February 25, 1931

Chain stores do not have a material
advantage over independent merchants
in merchandising, for

Chain store expense figures are no
lower than those of independent stores
giving the same service, for

The cost of doing business in inde-
pendent grocery stores averages about
18 per cent., while chain store costs

-average about 15 per cent.—Professor

Nystrom, from pamphlet of the U. S.
Chamber of Commerce, 1930.

Independent drug store’ costs aver-
age about 30 per cent., while chain
store costs are about the same.—Same
source.

Independent shoe store costs aver-
age about 24 per cent., and chain store
costs, operating under similar condi-
tions, average about the same.—Same
source.

The Harvard Bureau of Business Re-
search figures for general merchandise
stores show costs which average about
15% per cent., while chain store costs
in this field are about the same.—Same
source.

Professor Nystrom says, “practically
any set of chain store costs covering
any system of service can ‘be matched
or even beaten by independent stores
operating in a similar way giving the
same service.’’-—-Same source.

Whatever buying advantages chain
stores may have are offset by the cost
of warehousing, stock-keeping, dis-
tribution of merchandise to the local
stores and depreciation, for

As Professor Nystrom points out,
“a chain store that buys direct and
handles large quantities of goods in-
curs new expenditures for warehous-
ing, handling, stock-keeping, trans-
portation, depreciation, etc. Quantity
buying resulting in securing the lowest
prices almost invariably results in in-
creasing operating expenses.”—“Chain
Stores” in pamphlet of the U.S. Cham-
Ser of Commerce.

The National City Bank Letter for
May 1930 points out that the advan-
tages of quantity buying are largely
offset by the cost of maintaining ware-
houses and re-distributing merchandise
in small quantities. “Taking over this
assembly function of the wholesaler
does not always effect the savings that
were anticipated because for many
years the margin of profit in the whole-
sale trade has been very narrow.”

Chain inherent ad-
vantages over independents in any of
the essentials of successful business,
for

Professor Paul H. Nystrom says,
“the essentials necessary for the suc-
cess of chain stores are precisely the
same as those for independent dis-
tributors.” These essentials are:

1. Convenient location.

2. Suitable building and equipment.

3. Clean, attractive, convenient dis-
play of goods, together with wise use
of publicity to attract people to the
store.

4. Efficient, courteous, helpful em-
ployes.

5. Merchandise stocks that are
fresh and that are made up of the
goods that customers want.

6. Service that customers need and
want.

7. Prices that are reasonable and
that are on a fair parity with competi-
tion, qualities and services considered.

stores have no

in i ten rsa

MICHIGAN TRADESMAN

Professor Nystrom concludes, “there
is nothing that the chains do which
cannot be done equally well by the in-
dependents.”—-Pamphlet of the U. S.
Chamber of Commerce, 1930.

Chain stores tend to confuse the con-
sumer as to value of merchandise and
as to price saving, for

Chain stores frequently push their
own private brands which are of an
unknown quality, for

The majority of chain store man-
agers are compelled to sell 75 per cent.
of their retail sales in their own private
brands, according to Frank Farrington
in his book, “Meeting Chain ‘Store
Competition.”

W. J. Baxter, Director of Research,
Chain Store Research Bureau, has
pointed out that four out of seven
companies retail their own private
brands of shoes, and that three of the
remaining chains sell approximately
two-thirds of their shoes under their
own labels—Chain Store Distribution
and Management.

In an analysis of chain store adver-
tising, over 2,800 items pertained to
nationally advertised brands; over
2,500 items pertained to private brands,
and almost 1,000 items did not specify
the brand. ‘This indicates that less
than 50 per cent. of the items adver-
tised were nationally advertised brands.
—Food Distribution, June, 1930.

The Emil ‘Brisacher Advertising
Agency points out that a certain gro-
cery item was continuously advertised
for three years in a metropolitan ter-
ritory where chain stores do 64 per
cent. of the volume. This product had
100 per cent. distribution in the inde-
pendent stores, and ranged from third
to first best seller. But not a single
chain store would stock it, although a
recent survey disclosed the fact that
every chain store outlet received daily
calls for it, and persistent requests had
been made by the chains’ retail store
managers to local chain store head-
quarters.—Printer’s Ink, March 27,
1930,

Professor Usher of Boston Univers-
ity recently investigated the quality of
chain store brands. On finding that
certain goods were of a low quality,
he said, “they were certainly not a bar-
gain at the price” .. “customers did
not get more than they paid for. The
chain stores are deliberately educating
the public in price buying, and it is
believed that the results of the survey
are sufficient to warrant saying that
such education is definitely to the dis-
advantage of the public.” (Price buy-
ing’ means that the public is being
educated to buy goods having the low-
est price, and to ignore the considera-
tion of quality.)

Chain stores do not sell all goods at
“bargain prices’ as they lead the con-
sumer ‘to believe, for

They merely appear to undersell in-
dependent stores because of their “loss
leader” policy, for

It was testified before the House In-
terstate Commerce Committee that an
executive of a certain biscuit company
admitted that their package goods are
sold for less in chain stores, but that
the company’s bulk goods, which the
public could not recognize, sold for
more.—N. Y. Times, April 23, 1926.

The Interstate and -Foreign Com-

(Continued on page 31)

 

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TELEPHONE CO.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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How are you and Dad?”

No matter how far away from relatives and
friends you may be, LOW COST Long
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You will enjoy frequent ‘‘telephone visits’’ with
Mother and Dad back home. It’s mighty good to
hear their voices and to know that they are well.

Long Distance telephone service is surprisingly
LOW IN COST, and the service is fast and

easy to use.

For any article or service you require, refer
to the Classified Telephone Directory. The
Yellow Pages tell you ‘‘Where To Buy It’

 

 

 

 

17

 

 

 

Ola Master
COFFEE

Universally Conceded To Be the Best
Brand on the Market For the Money.

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18

DRY GOODS

Michigan Retail Dry Goods Association.
President—J. B. Mills, Detroit.
* First Vice-President—Geo. E. Martin,
Benton Harbor.
Second Vice-President—J. T. Milliken,
Traverse City.
Secretary-Treasurer—Thomas Pitketh-

ly, Flint.
Manager—Jason E. Hammond, Lansing.

 

Happy Hints in the Sale of Handbags.
Color Trend For Spring
a. Black
b. Blue (Skipper)

Volume
ce. Tan
d. Green

e. ‘Gray—high fashion.
Material Trend For Spring.

a. Fabrics will shortly equal leathers
and before long will surpass them in
volume. Fabrics will be even stronger
this year than last—beginning with
crepe in the spring and going into
linens, etc., in the summer.

b. Smooth calf.

ce. Java lizards will be better than
ever; especially smart will be black or
navy combined with Java lizard. The
importance of black and white lizard
and combinations cannot be emphasiz-
ed too strongly.

d. Snakes will not be as smart as
last year.

e. Patent leather will be very good
—navy as well as black.

f. Pigskin will be a high fashion, but
will develop.

Style Trend For Spring.

There will not be much change in
style except that bags will be very
simple and very feminine—a few more
top handles. There will be more de-
mand for frame bags than there has
been for some time. While bags are
larger, they are still not too large.
There will be no elaborate ornaments
and very few marcasite ornaments.

Mutual Problems.

1. With the drop in prices, a larger
percentage of business is going into the
$3 and $5 price lines. This is affect-
ing the bag department’s mark-up, as
formerly the department profited by
the larger mark-up on higher priced
bags.

2. With the trend toward fabrics,
another difficulty is added to keeping
up the retail prices.

3. High markdowns in the bag de-
partment prevent it from making the
net profit it should. Markdowns for
the retailer are usually markdowns for
the manufacturer, too.

4. Customers’ returns are a problem
both for the retailer and the manufac-
turer.

Reducing Markdowns.

For the five months ending Decem-
ber, 1930, our markdowns were reduced
from 5.4 per cent. to 3.4 per cent. to
net sales for the period. We attribute
this to three factors:

1. Small stocks. Our turnover in-
creased from 4.75 to 4.90 for the five
months’ period.

2. Playing a smaller number of
ideas and trends; i. e., concentrating
on a few ideas, colors, fabrics and
styles, not trying to touch on every-
thing.

3. A more highly developed system
of merchandise control.

Merchandise Control.

1. Physical inventory every Thurs-
day morning by price lines, materials
or fabrics and color. Material classi-

MICHIGAN TRADESMAN

fications are: leathers, antelopes, fab-
rics and evening.

2. Sales experience record, by same
price, material and color classification
accumulative for the week and month
to date.

3. Establishment of planned sales
by price lines over two thirty-day per-
iods in advance—these planned figures
are checked each week and changed
accordingly.

4. Checking our sales against our
stocks ‘by percentage each week as to
price lines, color and materials; i.e.,
black leather stock may be 30 per cent.
and black leather sales 55 per cent.,
meaning that we are starving our black
leather stock.

5. Detailed buying plans are made
for each market trip from all of the
above accumulated information—allow-
ance being made for expected accelera-
tion or falling off in seasonal or style
demands. This year we cut our ante-
lope markdowns about 60 per cent. by
anticipating a drop in sales three weeks
to a month sooner than last year. We
have been observing this particular
drop in demand for several seasons.

6. We keep a record of our mark-
downs by manufacturers—thus enabl-
ing us to eliminate unprofitable re-
sources.

7. On the first day of each month
we list by style number, retail price and
number of pieces all merchandise which
has been in stock sixty days or more.
This merchandise is pulled out of stock
and gone over by a committee consist-
ing of merchandise manager, buyer, as-
sistant buyer and an unprejudiced per-
son not connected with merchandising.
Markdowns are taken each month (or
oftener) according to the judgment of
this committee. Every piece of mer-
chandise is handled each month.

8. Graph of color experience, show-
ing sales and stock.

Bringing Up Sales.

1. Promotion of evening and dressy
afternoon ‘bags. For the four months,
October, November, December and
January, the percentage of our sales
of strictly evening bags to total sales
was about 25 per cent. We feel that
bag departments can profit by the
greater promotion of formal bags.

Increasing Sales Volume,

1. Promotion of sales of the fabric
bags and dressy bags in.general. In
some parts of the country it may be
that retailers have not recognized the
increasing vogue for feminine after-
noon, more or less dressy bags of fab-
rics. Some stores may be able to
bring up their volume by stressing this
type of merchandise.

(Suggestions made before the Mer-
chandise Managers’ session, National
Retail Dry Goods Association conven-
tion by Josephine D. ‘Sutton, of Himel-
hoch Bros. & Co., Detroit.)

—_—_2>+-+__

Opaline Green and Yellow Combined
in Pajamas.

The romantic and picturesque char-
acter of the pajama costume lends it-
self to studies in color. In the new
lounging and hostess pajamas, color
contrasts and blendings are strongly
emphasized. A jacket of one color is
worn with trousers of another, and
often the blouse brings in a third, with
a yoke, scarf, sash or trimming of some

material in a pattern in which color
notes are repeated.

The number of colors and shades is
a matter of individual taste and de-
pends upon the type of the suit. If
you prefer pajamas in one color, the
different tones from light to dark offer
variety. For example, three shades of
yellow from pale corn to deep gold or
orange make a stunning ensemble in
pajamas of the new crystal crepe. The
idea is illustrated also in greens, blues
and reds.

Yellow in every known shade is tre-
mendously popular and makes some
striking composition with other colors.
Love bird, a vivid green, is used for a
deep-pointed yoke in the blouse of
pajamas in opaline yellow crepe. A
finger-tip coat is mode of the green and
a long narrow double scarf combines
the two colors.

In an ambitious color scheme the
trousers are black, the tuck-in blouse
beige, and a short bolero, with ‘long
sleeves and cuffs, is bright red. The
ensemble is illuminated with a sash of
white crepe with’hair lines of black
and enormous coin spots of red, white
and blue. Patou, who is going in
heavily for pajamas in his Spring col-

lection, indulges in some delightful
combinations of yellow with other
colors. A formal dinner ensemble in

opaline yellow crepe he makes with
blouse and trousers in one. The width
of the trousers is exaggerated in a
panel of accordion pleated material set
in each side. The bodice of opaline
green is short, and is stitched to the
trousers with a deep point in front. The
belt is a two-inch band of solid rhine-
stone passementerie.

Empire green and orange crystal
crepe make a brilliant contrast in a suit
that has the extremely wide fan-shaped
side panels in the orange trousers, and
a three-quarter coat of green. A scarf
of green and one of orange are drawn
about the waist, and tied with long
ends.

This new love bird green is a vivid
note in a two-piece maize tinted crepe
of which the trousers and blouse are
made in one. The green jacket is cut
very short with little cap sleeves and
edged all around with a narrow knife
pleating. A coat of bright cherry is
shown with trousers and blouse of
beige. Two greens, one very delicate
and one very dark, are used together
in a two piece. Blue is introduced
with green in a pajama suit de luxe,
with a huge diagonal plaid, hand paint-
ed on a white ground.—N. Y. Times.

———~+->___

Plans Made For the Detroit Conven-
tion.

Lansing, Feb. 24—A committee
meeting was held a few days ago and
since that time we have been in cor-
respondence with prospective speakers.
We announce the names of prominent
persons who have agreed to partici-
pate:

Lew Hahn, President Hakn Depart-
ment Stores, New York.

Amos Parrish, stylist, New York.

Roger ‘M. Andrews, President and
Business (Manager Detroit Times.

G. R. Schaeffer, advertising director
Marshall Field & Co., Chicago.

Harvey T. Campbell, Vice-President
Detroit Board of Commerce.

E. C. Stephenson, office manager, J.
L. Hudson Co., Detroit.

Kenneth Barnard, business manager
Better Business Bureau, Detroit.

Our convention will be a two-day

 

February 25, 1931

affair. The forenoon of the first day
wil be given over to enrollment and
greetings. A noon luncheon, probably
addressed by Mr. Campbell, of the De-
troit Board of Commerce, and after-
noon program followed by an _ inex-
pensive dinner at 6:30, at which time
One or two of the above named men
will speak.

The program will continue during
the second day, forenoon, noon lunch-
eon program and afternoon, adjourn-
ing early enough so that members may
drive to their homes at the close of the
program.

We wish to emphasize the fact that
this convention will be conducted on
economical lines. We are not paying
extravagant sums to speakers and the
cost of remaining over night and at-
tending the banquet need not be any
more than in any of the up-State cities.

We want the convention to be a busi-
ness one with no extravagant features.
Since the convention is a two-day af-
fair, members will be required to re-
main over only one night. Please plan
now to come early and stay through.

The expected has happened in the
introduction of a Retail Sales Tax bill.
It is H. B. No. 133, introduced by Rep-
resentative Ate Dykstra, of Grand
Rapids. It has gone to the Committee
on General Taxation, Chairman Wm.
J. Thomas, of Grand Rapids, and will
be printed, given a file number, and
readv for distribution soon. We hope
to have a copy for all of our members
with our next bulletin.

The progress of this bill will be care-
fully watched and reported to our
members. Get in touch with the Sen-
ator and Representative from your Dis-
trict and express to them your opinion
of the bill.

We have a letter from Otis Miner, of
Lake Odessa, which tells us that we
were of some service to him in settling
his pattern troubles. We quote:

“Glad to tell you that I have received
a check in full from the pattern com-
pany. It is satisfactory. I received
full settlement in all that I claimed.
Thank you for your help.”

We have had quite a number of these
settlements to make recently and in
some cases have been quite successful.

Jason E, Hammond,
Mer. Mich. Retail Dry Goods Ass'n.

-_——_—_s+- 2>______

Low End Sterling Call Significant.

Sterling silver hollow ware to retail
at $5 is being purchased in considerable
quantity in the New York market this
week by buyers seeking merchandise
for special sales events next month.
The attention given sterling silver is
regarded by some producers as a sig-
nificant indication that stores will turn
to popular--price silver if the present
popularity of pewter hollow ware
wanes. There has been some call for
better-price sterling in new shapes and
designs. One producer claims a good
business on merchandise retailing up
to $60, made up in an adaptation of the
Danish silver--piece designs.

Small Stocks Aid Novel Jewelry.

A strong point in the outlook for
better sales of novelty jewelry is the
smallness of the stocks in retailers’
hands. Most stores purchased these
goods rather lightly during the latter
half of last year and have entered upon
their Spring buying with little draw-
back in the way of unsold stocks. This
has accounted for the activity in jewel-
ry during recent weeks and for the
duplicating already being done on re-
cent turnover. Algerian, Crusader and
Arabian trends are outstanding in the
types selling. The color preference
continues to strongly favor coral and
turquoise,

he
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February 25, 1931

MICHIGAN TRADESMAN

19

 

SHOE MARKET

Michigan Retail Shoe Dealers Association.
President—Elwyn Pond, Flint.
Vice-President—J. E. Wilson, Detroit
Secretary—Joe H. Burton, Lansing.
Asst. Sec’y-Treas.—O. R. Jenkins.
Association Business Office, 907 Trans-

portation Bldg., Detroit.

 

Simple Window Displays To Sell More
Spring Shoes.

Everyone has ideas. Some practical,
some impractical, Putting practical
and novel ideas to work in the average
show window at a nominal cost con-
fronts the display man at every turn.
The seasoned window fan knows that
he must keep his displays near the
front of the modern eight cylinder pro-
cession, but his appropriation will not
in most cases, permit hiring others to
eecute his ideas. Here is the way F.
Foulk, display manager for Boston
Shoe Company, Louisville, Ky., goes
about it:

When a certain effect is wanted, in
one Or maybe all of the windows, the
problem is simplified if something is
placed before you which offers a sug-
gestion. It may be a color scheme,
unusual setting, or a hook-up with
some event of public interest. A glance
through a book of poster reproductions,
an ornament or design book, maybe the
old window hand book—and the idea
hits you. Sketch it immediately on
paper, even if ever so roughly. Re-draw
it carefully to the proportions of your
window and indicate color in which
each piece or part will be finished. A
chalk sketch in actual completed size
on a ‘blank wall, insures best balance,
both as to setting and contemplated
color, if the setting is entirely differ-
ent from anything used previously. It
usually is different to-day, too.

With this diagram, or “skeleton” to
work from, the setting is quickly built
without the least difficulty or delay,
unless the idea being worked out calls
for designs, scenes or ornamentation
5eyond the display man’s province. If
the setting requires a fantastic or fu-
turistic cutout, which is “over your
head,” take it out of a magazine, an
art book or some other medium and
place it under a projector for enlarge-
ment to the desired size. It is then
a simp‘e matter to trace the outline di-
rectly onto the wallboard or poster.

Ornaments in wide variety may be
quickly made from plaster. of Paris.
An unlimited assortment of cake and
jello pans in many pretty designs can
be purchased from the “Five and Ten”
for molds. Simply grease them and
after pouring in the plaster of Paris,
imbed a wire to suspend the ornament
on. These may be painted or finished
in any color or combination.

Chrome metal, either plain, etched
or corrugated, is readily worked into
trimming or fixtures. It should be
used sparingly, however, to avoid a
“tin” effect. .

Just a tip about “nominal costs.” If
you require work done by a cutout
man, a woodworker or other trades-
man, give him the exact pattern with
every design or cutout marked. The
cost of this work is always on a time
basis, so if he must draw your design,
scale and mark it out, the cost is often
doubled or tripled. For instance, a
setting which originally cost $100 was
to ‘be duplicated for another window.
A mill was given the patterns, so the

cost in this case was only $15 for all
materials cut ready to assemble,

Now a word about the shoes ‘them-
selves. Few proprietors of shoe stores
have the incentive or courage to let a
window man put in real selling trims.
Too many displays are trimmed just
as they were twenty-five years ago.
The shoes and the fixtures may vary,
but the idea of making the windows a
catalogue of everything in the house
still prevails.

This is especially true of men’s dis-
plays. At the present moment, mer-
chants are complaining that the pres-
ent conditions are causing men to
concentrate on buying of black shoes.
One pair of black shoes will. do a lot
of service, if that is the only pair a
man owns. So—following the lines of
least resistance, shoe men are causing
their windows to be piled full of black
shoes,

If the courage to show nothing but
browns for spring was made manifest,
the men’s shoe business would come in
for more songs of gratitude and less
profane condemnation. Solid displays
of new browns will do a great deal in
putting the needed life in the men’s
business, according to well posted
students of the present conditions.

The recent growing interest in men’s
sport shoes was in no wise due to the
retail shoe merchants themselves in
pioneering in this new field. Not over
five stores in the country used solid
displays of sports shoes. And those
that did were overwhelmed with the
response. Use windows for what they
were intended for—that is, for the dis-
play of new goods and not as a cata-
logue,

Here are some window trimming
ideas that proved effective for Walter
E. Giesting of the Bostonian Shoe
Store, Cincinnati.

When it came time to feature sum-
merweight shoes for men, Mr. Giest-
ing hit on the novel idea of calling
them “Air Weights.” He found that
the name had a strong appeal, and
he will do the same this year. People
are even more air-minded than they
were a year ago, and the term appeals
to the fancy. Then, again, the pos-
sibilities of building windows around
the airplane motif are many and effec-
tive.

To get the idea of wing tips across
to the men of Cincinnati, Mr. Giesting
made use of an idea that was equally
novel and effective. A massive stuffed
American eagle, with a wing spread of
six feet, was the centerpiece. A read-
able descriptive sign told that the store
was introducing “wings.” Nothing but
wing tip shoes were shown in this win-
dow. The eagle dramatized the idea
and the window had the desired effect
of pepping up the sales.

In an attempt to feel the pulse of the
public toward the narrow toe, Cuban
heel shoes, one lone shoe was set in the
middle of the window, with a strong
spot trained on it. A lone card read:
“Style Note Direct From New York.”
Walter stayed over the first night just
to listen in on the comments. Enough
drifted over the transom to fil! a book.
Results? One man was waiting for
the store to open the next morning, not
to buy, but to settle a bet as to whether
any more shoes were going to be

shown in the window. The first nine
men who bought shoes asked for that
“one.’—Boot and Shoe Recorder.
—__>+.+__
Fight the Sales Tax.

We have emphasized time and time
again that the “power to tax is the
power to destroy.” Industry is in for
a taxation period, the like of which it
has not known before. Taxes will
soon ‘be our greatest burden.

We could speak broadly on all the
major items of taxation of town, city,
state and Nation and on everything
from sidewalk tax to the bonus: but
let’s speak specifically on the effort to
put over a retail sales tax. Many
states are endeavoring to seek addition-

al revenue through a retail sales tax. -

If enacted, it will add tremendously to
the merchant’s expense and also to the
general cost of living to the consumer.

Merchants have been passive in their
Opposition for several years. They
have permitted the politician to do
most anything he wanted; but the turn
has come. Last week, one of the
strongest retail associations in Amer-
ica, the National Retail Dry Goods As-
sociation, hammered on the subject in
every one of its sessions. This tax
problem has got to be solved right
now. It can’t wait. If it means mass-
meetings of merchants, let’s have them.
If it means vigorous hearings in legis-
lative halls, let’s have organized, defi-
nite and factual opposition. This is no
time for pussy-footing and saying: “It’s
the other fellow’s problem.” A sales tax
will hit every store in proportion to its
business. It is a menace! Fight it
vigorously.— Boot and Shoe Recorder.

Another Day.

“Well this day is done!’
What thing is this they call a day
Anyway?
Compelling all, is it a thing,
Of measured hours which only bring
A round of tasks that one must do
Ere he can say the day is through?
What is a day
Anyway?

“Well this day is done!’’
Its import full who can portray
Anyway?
A sovereign is it, one must heed
And serve, respondent, with a need
To walk or run or linger where
Another task awaits us there?
What is a day
Anyway?

“Well this day is done!’
But did I go without gainsay
Anyway?
And willing ever, with a hand
To carry out each new demand
Whose powerful right shali none resist
And greater grows as men persist?
What is a day
Anyway?

“Well this day is done!’’
What does it show with full survey
Anyway?
Was first I glad to see it dawn
But more rejoiced when it was gone;
With pleasure now shall I recall
Mishap or weal? Pray after all
What is a day
Anyway?

“Well this day is done!”
And though so often people say:
“Anway
What is day?’’—God only knows;
Or whence it comes, or where it goes.
But this I pray whatever come
That each when done may net this sum:
A real good day
Anyway.
Charles A. Heath.
——_++>____

Too Often the Case.

Mother’s in the kitchen, washing up the
jugs;

Fathers in the cellar, bottling up the
suds;

Sister’s in the pantry, mixing up the
hops—

Johnny’s on the front porch, watching
for the cops.

so?

Keep your part of the works in or-
der. It will increase your production.

 

MicHIGAN SHOE DEALERS
MUTUAL FIRE INSURANCE CO.

 

DETROIT
607 Transportation Bldg.
Phone-Randolph 0729

 

Organized in 1912

A MICHIGAN COMPANY
OPERATING IN MICHIGAN ONLY

ON ALL CLASSES OF INSURANCE
WE CAN SAVE YOU MONEY

MUTUAL BUILDING
LANSING, MICHIGAN
Phone 20741

— BRANCH OFFICES —

412 Grand Rapids Trust Bldg.

GRAND RAPIDS

Phone 81351

 

 

 

 

MICHIGAN TRADESMAN

February 25, 1931

 

RETAIL GROCER

Retail Grocers and Meat Dealers Associa-
tion of Michigan.
eee Gerritt VanderHooning,
First ae eee Schultz,

Ann Ar
Second Vice-President—Paul Schmidt,

Lansing.
Secretary — Herman Hanson, Grand
Rapids.
Treasurer—O. H. Bailey, Sr., Lansing.
Directors — Ole Peterson, Muskegon:

Frank Marxer, Saginaw: Le gh Thomas,
Ann Arbor; M. C. Goossen, Lansing; R.
J. LaBarge, Pontiac.

 

Some Contrasts Between Italian and
French Methods.

Two contrasts strike us forcibly be-
tween Italy and France now that we
have reached Nice, only a few miles
within the French border: The plenti-
tude of money and the great cleanli-
ness of food shops and clerks in
France against the dirt and poverty of
Italy.

The lack of ready money in all Ital-

ian cities we visited was amazing. No-
body could make change except large

department stores and even in those
the time taken was distressing to one
accustomed to American speed of
movement. The great central postoffice
of Rome is an imposing palace—liter-
ally so ‘because it is housed in a bui'd-
ing constructed around the usual inner
courtyard, adorned with statues and
fountains, which once was the home of
some princely family or other. Stamps,
picture postcards and stationery are
sold at a large counter in the writing
room, which is quite spacious. But if
your purchase of cards, envelopes and
stamps amounts to such a staggering
sum as 35c and you hand out 10 lire,
value 52%c, the attendant has to call
a uniformed “ufficially” to scout for
change. :

Buy a sheaf of note paper in a sta-
tionery shop for 20c and hand out 25c
and the proprietress must dig into her
private purse for what you need to get
back. I had to pay about $2 excess
baggage fare between ‘Genoa and Nice.
I handed the ufficially at the window
the equivalent of approximately $2.50.
He scoured his drawer, shrugged his
shoulders and pushed back my note,
indicating that I’d have to provide the
exact amount.

I did not even try to speak Italian.
I said in good plain English: “Not on
your life! Change is up to you—you
get it and get it quick!’ More busi-
ness of shoulder shrugging on part of
the ufficially—more insistence on my
part—more shoving my $2.50 to me
and from me back to him—until he hit
upon a brilliant expedient; he borrow-
ed 2 lire, 1034c, from the porter of our
hotel, which enabled him to make
change. All this, please note, in a
great, modern, elaborately equipped
(from European standpoint) railway
station in the most important seaport
town of all Italy where all railways
are run and entirely controlled by the
Italian government.

My contact with Italian living con-
ditions, the people, my slight knowl-
edge of Italian history and all com-
bined consequences on tthe habits, tra-
ditions and circumstances of that peo-
ple lead me to have great admration
for Mussolini. He has accomplished
so much—as may be seen from my
later observations—that I feel he de-
serves almost unlimited credit. But
there surely is crying need for a rem-

 

edy for this scarcity of enough money
to conduct the ordinary affairs of life.
As things stand now, the waste of time
and energy entailed by this scarcity
must cost the Italan people as much as
their army or navy, perhaps both.

Time and the value thereof is not
understood in Italy. This is one of
their blind sides. But I feel sure it
would be grasped at least in part if
this wasteful burden were once lifted.

This handicap is not seen in France.
Immediately one enters that very pros-
perous country one finds abundance of
money in everybody’s hands. True,
it is paper of a wide variety of sizes.
It ranges from the thousand franc
note as large as an eighth newspaper
page down to the five franc note the
size of an ordinary envelope. It
bunches up in the pocketbook and is
awkward to handle, but there is enough
of it.

Few readers of these lines are old
enough to recall a similar condition
in our country. It followed our War
of Sections. Specimens of those little
bits of currency can be seen in his-
torical museums, G. A. 'R. posts and
many private scrapbooks—mine, for in-
stance. Resumption of specie payment
was a political issue prior to actual re-
sumption about 1878.

There is a vast variety of miscel-
laneous small change also in France.
It is more of a job to learn and keep
track of than that of Italy. But there
is plenty of it in every shop and all
public places.

For the item of shop and personal
cleanliness I can hardly say too much
too emphatically. Three months of
contact with conditions suitable to the
middle ages blunts the edge of one’s
perception somewhat, even if we be
unconscious of it. The first look-in one
gets on an Italian “latteria”—lah-tair-
ree-ah—is enough to turn one’s stom-
ach. Nobody could be surprised that
milk must all be boiled or it sours in
a few hours; that raw cream must be
obtained fresh in the afternoon and
kept mighty cold if it is to be useable
for coffee next morning. Butter is
rancid almost without exception, nor
is that a bit surprising.

In or about 1880, though 1 never
saw that condition, laundry soap was
still handled by grocers in bars. The
name bar survived the actuality—does
yet to some extent. Bars were long
and weighed several pounds. A pound,
two pounds or more was cut off on
demand. A burlesque set of “Clerks’
Instructions” was once published in a
Chicago trade journal. I remember
just one item: “If you want to cut a
bar of soap, take the ham knife—it
won't hurt the soap.”

Italian grocers now work on that
plan. Ham, salt side meat and sausage
are all cut with one knife. Butter
comes in little pats and elongated-rolls,
all neatly wrapped and often lead-
sealed. But butter is handled as if it
was soap. It is piled on shelves—no
ice boxes, of course—and among bacon,
sausage, olives and cheese. It might
be nails for all these boys know of con-
tamination or delicacy of flavor. Cus-
tomers are served with any quantity
desired, down to the gram, and to at-
tain that end; the butter is slashed with
the ham-sausage-cheese knife any old

(Continued on page 31)

 

 

EASTER SUNDAY APRIL 5th

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PERMIT OUR SALESMEN TO ASSIST YOU NOW.
PUTNAM FACTORY

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Grand Rapids, Mich.

 

 
  
  
  
  
 

In More Homes Everyday

ARAaALSOmM

America’s Finest Bread

   
 
 

 

SANCTUM BAKORIUM AWW
NEWS

The day is fast approaching
when home-baked bread will
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Always Sell

LILY WHITE FLOUR

“*The Flour the best cooks use.’’

Also our high quality specialties

Rowena Yes Ma'am Graham Rowena Pancake Flour

Rowena Golden G. Meal Rowena Buckwheat Compound
Rowena Whole Wheat Flour

Satisfaction guaranteed or money refunded.
VALLEY CITY MILLING CO. Grand Rapids, Mich

 

 

 

 

Leading Grocers always have
a supply of

POSTMA’S RUSK

as they are in Demand in all Seasons
Fresh Daily

POSTMA BISCUIT CO.

GRAND RAPIDS, MICHIGAN

aa SS IS —

Se area ee
—

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Rusk Bakers Since 1882

 

 

 

 

GRAND RAPIDS PAPER Box Co.

Manufacturers of SET UP and FOLDING PAPER BOXES

SPECIAL DIE CUTTING AND MOUNTING

G R AN D

 

RA,PIDS, MICHIGAN

 

ANNOUNCING

A new installed wash room of our own, enabling us to furnish
you daily with fresh Carrots, Beets, Parsnips, Turnips, Celery,
Etc. Give us a trial.

VAN EERDEN COMPANY
201-203 Ellsworth, S. W. Grand Rapids, Mich.

 

 

 

1

 

 

nage

February 25, 1931

MICHIGAN TRADESMAN

21

 

MEAT DEALER

Michigan State Association of Retail
Meat Merchants.
President—Frank Cornell, Grand Rapids
Vice-Pres.—_E ©. Abbott, Flint.
Secretary—E. J. La Rose, Detroit.
Treasurer—Pius Goedecke, Detroit.
Next meeting will be held in Grand
Rapids, date not decided.

 

Outlawed.

Every debt owing to the meat dealer
that is two years old is likely to run
amuck of the statute of limitations, for
which the period varies in various
states. Naturally, every meat mer-
chant should be familiar with the law
of his own state and he should also
know the various ways in which he
can keep desperate accounts alive, i.e.,
how to keep these stale accounts from
becoming outlawed by the tolling of
the statute of limitations.

The trouble with most dealers is that
they let their accounts run too long,
forgetting there is such a thing as a
statute of limitations until it is too late.
Collecting accounts is also frequently
an indoor sport which doesn’t always
produce results, because the debtor is
not reached personally, but by mail;
yet letters may be written or state-
ments may be mailed and framed in
such a way that the debtor can be
made to acknowledge his indebtedness
or to make a promise to pay in writing
which is sufficient to start the statute
of limitations running all over again, or
at teast to postpone the outlaw date.
And if you want to save desperate ac-
counts it is up to you to start the col-
lection mill grinding before the statute
“tolls.”

There are a number of ways in which
the statute of limitations can be stop-
ped from barring the collection of your
account, viz:

How To Keep Old Debts From Being

1. Part payment.

2. Giving a note.

3. Written promises by mail, or a
promise which is assigned in person
by the debtor.

4. Oral statements with witnesses
present.

5. Payment other than in money,
such as in merchandise or in service.

Even a small partial payment is
enough. If no payment is made on ac-
count, however, every effort should be
made to secure a promise to pay in
writing. It is to be remembered that
the payment of only $1 is sufficient. If
the payment of one dollar cannot be
secured, the debtor may be willing to
sign a note. Even though he doesn’t
intend to pay the note, that doesn’t
stop the statute from running, so long
as he signs an actual promissory note.

It is sometimes also enough if a con-
ditional promise has been made to pay
a debt provided it is accompanied by
a sufficient showing that the condition
upon which the promise is made to de-
pend has been performed, such as when
the debtor expects an inheritance, or
expects to get some money in from
someone who owes him.

Part payment is regarded in most
jurisdictions as the best of all acknowl-
edgments. A part payment must, of
course, be voluntary. The principle is
that by a part payment the party pay-
ing intended by it to acknowledge and
admit the greater debt to be due and
upon this the inference may be drawn
of a promise to pay the balance, and

so the payment alone revives the debt
no matter how old it may be. The
part payment also marks the time from
which the statute of limitations begins
to run anew. The effect is to con-
tinue the old obligation. It makes no
difference whether such a payment is
made before or after the debt is barred.

It is not always necessary that the
payment be in money—anything of
value may be given by the debtor and
accepted in payment, and will be suf-
ficient, provided it is accepted as part
payment only and not in full payment.

Offers of compromise should not be
relied on to take the case out of the
statute of limitations because they do
not “toll” the statute, nor should an
offer of settlement be considered as
enough, because this may be made
merely with a view to avoid trouble or
litigation. It will not renew a debt
which is barred by law. The debtor
should be made to sign a promise to
pay. A payment of part of the debt
in full satisfaction of the whole or a
payment made ‘by the debtor under the
impression that he is paying in full
does not revive the statute.

Where a debtor upon being shown
his statement of account says that he
is willing to settle it and to pay at
some date in the near future, it is
enough to stop the statute from run-
ning, ‘but where a debtor simply prom-
ises to settle up and his words indi-
cate that he looks merely to a future
adjustment of accounts between the
parties, it is not enough. Where, how-
ever, the debtor promises to settle up
by such and such a date, it is equiva-
lent to agreeing to pay the account. A
promise should, therefore, be exacted
to settle an account on or before a cer-
tain date. Sometimes a written prom-
ise “to fix it up all right,” may be suf-
ficiently strong and definite enough to
stop the statute from running. How-
ever, it is always well to play safe and
to so word a letter demanding pay-
ment, or to so rubber stamp a state-
ment of account, that the debtor is
bound to reply and admit his indebted-
ness as justly due and owing.

The giving of a note for a debt or
for a part thereof, or even for the in-
terest is sufficient to stop the statute
from running, as is a renewal note.
Even an agreement to pay interest on
a debt may be construed as an ac-
knowledgment of the debt from which
a promise to pay may be implied.

A mere declaration of inability of
pay is not, however, sufficient in itself
to remove the bar unless it is coupled
with expressions which denote a will-
ingness or intention to pay. A prom-
ise to pay “As soon as I can,” “As
soon as possible,” or “If I can,” “When
IT am able,” “When my condition is
better,” or “When it is more conveni-
ent,” are all in general not enough to
take the case out of the statute of
limitations, as being too indefinite.

If the debtor can be made to say “I
will use this money which 'I owe you
for another year,” it is enough to start
the statute running again. So that if
you write a debtor a letter and say
“Do you wish to keep the money ‘yet,
or will you pay me now?” and the
debtor replies that he wishes to keep

- the money as he can make good use of

it, that is also enough. :
In general, it is well to remember

that it is not good policy to try to se-
cure an acknowledgment or a promise
to pay or a part payment on Sunday.
A promise to pay over the telephone
where the transaction is between the
debtor and the meat dealer alone is not

enough. It is something that cannot
be proven in a court of law in the ab-
sence of corroborating witness and,
therefore, if you wish to hold the
debtor liable, you should have two
(Continued on page 31)

 

of
Boquet

and

Finest Grown

Rademaker-Dooge Grocer Co.
Importers and Distributors

Fragrant Cup

Morning Glory Teas

 

 

VINKEMULDER COMPANY
Grand Rapids, Michigan
BRANCH AT PETOSKEY, MICH.
Distributors Fresh Fruits and Vegetables

Cranberries, Grapefruit, “Yellow Kid” Bananas, Oranges,
Onions, Fresh Green Vegetables, etc.

 

 

ORDER THIS QUICK SELLING
LINE FROM YOUR WAGON

In times when families are trying to
economize, -Noodles do not stay long
on the grocers’ shelves.

Mrs. Grass has worked out numerous
ways of making delicious dishes from
her Noodles and the recipe folders are
packed in each package.

DISTRIBUTOR.

Because every package of Mrs. Grass’
Genuine Egg Noodles makes steady
customers for your store, we urge you

 

to write to us to get the name of your
nearest Wagon Distributor.

I. J. GRASS NOODLE CoO., INC.
6021-7 Wentworth Ave.,

Dept. M.
Chicago, II.

 

 

EGGS -:

Market prices.

EGGS -

Low prices increased demand. On request we will be pleased
to quote finest quality Candled Aprils and Mays.

We are always in the market for Strictly Fresh Eggs, at full

We can supply Egg Cases and Egg Case Material of all kinds.

KENT STORAGE COMPANY -

EGGS

GRAND RAPIDS

 

 

GRIDDLES _—

7 N. IONIA AVE.

 

BUN STEAMERS _
Everything in Restaurant Equipment
Priced Right.

Grand Rapids Store Fixture Co.
Phone 67143

URNS

N. FREEMAN, Mer.

 

 

 

 

22
HARDWARE

Michigan Retail Hardware Association.
President—Waldo Bruske, Saginaw.
Vice-Pres.—Chas. H. Sutton, Howell.
Secretary—Arthur J. Scott, Marine City.
Treasurer—William Moore, Detroit.

 

Importance of Good Buying in Hard-
ware Business.

A prime requisite to successful sell-
ing, in the hardware ‘business, is good
buying. The goods well bought are
half sold.

(Moreover, a prime requisite of good
buying is accurate knowledge. The
hardware dealer should know his
goods, should know what he has in
stock, and should have a pretty clear
idea of what his customers are likely
to require.

Here is where the annual inventory
can be made very useful, provided the
dealer is willing to take its lessons to
heart. He will find in the annual in-
ventory what lines he has over-bought
for the sake of a “better price.” The
inventory will also indicate the slow
selling lines and the quick selling lines,
the lines to leave alone and the lines
to re-order promptly and watch care-
fully lest he run short.

It is only by studying the lessons of
experience, and by keeping closely in
touch with his stock and his sales, that
the hardware dealer can secure that
intimate knowledge of his goods and
his customers that especially equips a
merchant to buy successfully.

Hardware dealers are, however, un-
consciously handicapped by an old
tradition.

“T went into hardware,’ a dealer
told me once, “because—well, I fig-
ured there wasn’t any depreciation to
worry about. My stock would be just
as good at the end of the year as at
the beginning. Rats and weevils and
moths couldn’t get into it, and there
weren’t any styles to change.”

That was true enough in the days
when the hardware stock consisted
largely of nails, locks, hinges, putty,
glass and everyday working tools. But
the hardware stock in these days is a
decidedly different proposition. New
farming implements, new mechanical
devices, kitchen utensils and household
goods, art goods, hammered brass, cut
glass, alarm clocks—the modern hard-
ware store carries lines as varied as
those of any other store, and as sus-
ceptible to depreciation and to fluctua-
tions in public demand. Styles affect
electrical devices, color fads make
kitchen ranges and bath tubs obsolete
from one season to another; and while
the old feeling of surety remains in a
good many dealers’ minds, the surety
itself is gone.

Under such circumstances, the first
requisite in buying for the hardware
store is careful and judicious selection.
Selection is far more vital than price.
The article with a small margin, bought
so carefully that it finds a sure sale,
brings the merchant a better profit
than the article allowing a wide mar-
gin of profit but bought so extensively
that two-thirds of the stock remains
on the shelves.

Quality and quantity are both im-
portant factors. Quantity buying has
proven the pitfall of many a supposedly
shrewd hardware dealer. Quality, on
the other hand, is even more import-
ant.

The hardware dealer’s problem is to

MICHIGAN TRADESMAN

know and to buy, not the best article,
nor the cheapest, but the one which
his public will buy from him. He
must know the demand of his cus-
tomers for regular lines. He must also
be able, a still more difficult problem,
to guess pretty accurately their
capacity for absorbing novelties. He
must also neither overestimate nor
underestimate this own ability to per-
suade his customers to buy the goods
he stocks.

Price is often a pitfall. The lure of
a big margin of profit has frequently
led to the purchase by the dealer of
goods in quantities larger than his
trade can absorb.

Overloading in this way is danger-
ous. It ties up capital that should be
turned over frequently. Quick turn-
overs with apparently small profits
often represent better business than
slow sales with supposedly generous
profit margins. It is, not from the
goods he carries over, but from the
goods he sells, that the merchant
draws all his profits. The goods that
stay on the shelves not merely bring
him nothing, but cost him money to
carry over, and represent increasing
risks of total loss.

Price is, of course, vital. Goods
should allow a decent margin. Here,
again, to the hardware dealer, knowl-
edge is power. In this case what he
requires is knowledge of the markets.
It will pay any dealer to closely watch
not merely the actual price fluctua-
tions but world conditions that may,
perhaps months hence, bring higher or
lower prices.

One hardware dealer I know keeps
a card index of the more important
prices, posting them every day.

“T really believe,” he told me, “there
are hardware dealers, even in times
like these, who try to carry all the
price changes in their heads. I’ve al-
ways made it a practice to relieve my
mind of that sort of burden by jotting
down a change where it would be con-
venient for me to find it when I wanted
it, and where it would never be in the
way at other times. Formerly I used
an indexed book, but that proved
cumbersome, so I resorted to the card
index.

“The cards are arranged in alpha-
betical order, each card ‘being devoted
to a particular article or line. In this
way it is just a matter of a moment
to enter each price change as it be-
comes to my notice. If there’s an ad-

vance, say, in turpentine, I take out’

the turpentine card under ‘T’, enter
the change with the date, and replace
the card. Of course, I have all the
latest catalogues filed away; but this
system helps me to keep tab on ail
other quotations. It is more conveni-
ent than the book system for when a
card is filled I can start a new card
and throw the old one away.

“T find that I save quite a bit by
keeping closely in touch with the mar-
kets and following the trend of prices.
In this the trade papers are a big
help.”

Another helpful accessory in caring
for the needs of the hardware buyer is
a want book.

Various systems are used by different
dealers for keeping track of the wants.
The book system is the original sys-
tem, but here again loose leaf and card

systems are helpful. One store has
little pads printed in light shades of
pink yellow and blue. These pads are
placed conveniently about the store.
If an article asked for is out of stock
and has not been in stock before, the
salesman notes the item on a pink
slip and sends it up to the cashier’s
office. If an article usually carried is
out of stock, a blue slip is sent up. If
an article in stock is seen to be get-
ting low, so that early re-ordering is
advisable, the name and particulars of
the stock still remaining are entered
on a yellow slip. Every time a call is
made for an article out of stock or
almost out of stock—if it is a dozen
times a day—a slip is ‘filled out and
sent to the cashier’s office. At regu-
lar intervals the dealer himself goes
over the slips. They afford some idea
as to the demand for lines not stocked,
the call for goods that have gone out
of stock, and the demand for lines that
are running low. :
For ordinary purposes the want
book, properly kept, is ample. The
great thing is to make sure that it is
properly kept. In the old days when
there was one want book for the en-
tire store, it was only human for the

February 25, 1931

clerk, busy at one end of the establish-
ment, to postpone making an entry un-
til he had occasion to go to the other
end of the store—and in the meantime
quite forgot. Or he would yell across
the store to some other clerk who
would answer “All right!” and omit
to make the notation. :

It is a good scheme to provide four
or five, or even more, want books,
hung in different parts of the store and
so placed that they will be convenient
of access, The item which is not
entered at the moment is apt to be
forgotten, and the value of such a sys-
tem depends entrely on every item be-
ing entered.

With his market quotations on file,
his list of wants, and his knowledge of
his stock and his buying public, the
dealer is well equipped to buy intel-
ligently when the traveler comes. One
dealer makes it a practice, on receipt
of the notice of a traveler’s pending
visit, to get his material together and

‘make out his list. Thus he knows

what he needs, and how much _ he
needs, and is not left to guesswork.
Nor is he apt to be swept off his feet
by argument, jollying or the lure of a
quantity price.

 

Wholesale Only.

342 Market St., S. W.

Manufacturers and Distributors of
SHEET METAL ROOFING AND FURNACE SUPPLIES,
TONCAN IRON SHEETS,
CONDUCTOR PIPE AND FITTINGS.

We Protect our Dealers.

THE BEHLER-YOUNG CO.

EAVETROUGH,

Grand Rapids, Mich.

 

 

Michigan Hardware Co.

 

100-108 Ellsworth Ave., Corner Oakes
GRAND RAPIDS, MICHIGAN

Be -

Wholesalers of Shelf Hardware, Sporting
Goods and

FISHING TACKLE

 

 

Automobile Tires and Tubes
Automobile Accessories
Garage Equipment
Radio Sets
Radio Equipment

BROWN & SEHLER

COMPANY

Farm Machinery and Garden Tools
Saddlery Hardware

Harness, Horse Collars

Blankets, Robes
Sheep Lined and
Blanket - Lined Coats
Leather Coats

 

 

GRAND RAPIDS,

MICHIGAN

 

 

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BODO}

 

 

February 25, 1931

MICHIGAN TRADESMAN

 

 

Of course more elaborate stock-
keeping systems are in use in many
large stores, and have their value; but
for ordinary purposes the problem can
be handled with the very simple equip-
ment indicated. :

A feature worth watching is the
bringing out of ‘novelties and new de-
vices. These should be studied from
various angles. The novelty represents
an opportunity in many cases for the
local dealer first in the field to make
a killing. On the other hand, promis-
ing and attractive novelties frequently
fall flat, or, after a brief spell of popu-
larity, prove dead issues. And novel-
ties which go well in one community
may fail to sell in another, and vice
versa. Knowledge of your community
will often help in determining whether
or not some article offered is likely to
prove a good bet.

In this connection, it is worth while
to consider the effect of new inventions
on existing lines of trade. A new ar-
ticle may convert a staple line into
something obsolete and unsaleable—
and that is just the time when an en-
terprising salesman offers you the
supposed staple at a price to make
your mouth water, if only you’ll take
a huge (yet apparently saleable) quan-
tity.

That’s why it pays to keep your eyes
open in buying, to watch your step at
every turn. Victor Lauriston.

——_2->_____

Proceedings of the Grand Rapids
Bankruptcy Court.

Grand Rapids, Feb. 16—In the matter
of Elton Lahr, Bankrupt No. 4045, the
trustee has heretofore filed his final re-
port and account, and a final meeting
of creditors was held Jan. 20. There were
no appearances, except that of the trus-
tee. The trustee’s final report and ac-
count was considered and approved and
allowed. Claims were proved and allow-
ed. An order was made for the payment
of expenses of administration and for the
declaration and payment of a final divi-
dend to creditors of 8.9 per cent. A previ-
ous dividend of 5 per cent. has been paid,
and all preferred and secured claims have
heretofore been paid in full. No objections
were made to the discharge of the bank-
rupt. The final meeting then adjourned
without date, and the case will be closed
and returned to the district court, in
due course.

Feb. 16. We have to-day received the
adjudication and reference in the matter
of George Van Dellen, Bankrupt No. 4384.
This is an involuntary case and the
schedules have been ordered filed. The
bankrupt is a resident of Plainfield town-
ship, Kent county.

Feb. 16. We have to-day received the
schedules, reference and adjudication in
the matter of Harry O. Nelson, doing
business as Nelson’s Furniture Co., Bank-
rupt No. 4397. The bankrupt is a resi-
dent of Allegan. The schedule shows as-
sets of $1,601.45 of which $500 is claimed
as exempt, with liabilities of $4,995.94.
The first meeting of creditors will be
called and note of same made herein. The
list of creditors of said bankrupt is as
follows:

City of Allegan. 3 Sees $ 94.98
Todd Sales Co., Grand Rapids ____
Burroughs Adding Machine Co., Kal. 19.89
Nat. Cash Register Co., Kalamazoo 690.00
Goes Lithographing Co., Chicago__
Ralph M. Ralston, Inc., Kalamazoo 135.98
Charlotte Chair Co., Charlotte ____
Victor Lamp & Shade Mfg. Co., Chi.
Stevens Upholstering Co., Grand R. 256.16
Rollo G. Mosher, Wayland ________
H. Leonard & Sons, Grand Rapids 193.41

Frank Taylor Co., Cincinnati ____ 10.80
Frank Clay Co., Kalamazoo ______ 80.00
C. J. Litscher Elec. Co., Grand R. 11.26
Borin Vivatone Corp., Chicago ___ 15.00
Excelsior Stove & Mfg. Co., Quincy,
ER a ee 56.90
W. R. Compton, Grand Rapids ____ 8.16
Cribben & Sexton Co., Chicago ____ 199.84
Van Leeuwen Dry Goods Co., G.R. 37.50

Wolverine Fiber Furn. Co., Grand R. 22.35
Folding Furn. Works, Ine., Stevens

TeGiG VIR os 71.30
Postal Tele. Cable Co., Holland ____ .60
Pioneer Mfg. Co., Cleveland ______ 22.00
S. L. Cross Music Corp., Seattle,

BTS CO Aces ea Ra 2.52
Gobles News. Gobles —_.__.________ 10.20
Gibson Co., Kalamazoo _____.______ 10.00
Orleans Chair Co., Orleans, Ind. __ 36.05
Davis Birely Table Co., Shelbyville,

Ind, . a 19.75

 

Milan Table Co., Milan, Ind. ______ 35.80
Queen Stove Works, Inc., Albert
bea Minn, fe 53.00
Bush Adv. Co., Kalamazoo ___.____ 23.40
W. M. Johnston Furn. Co., Law-
rencebury,; Inds ie) ao. 90.05
B. F. Huntly Furn. Co., Winston-
malenON Ce 38.60
Schwayder Trunk Mfg. Co., Detroit 38.60
Nagel Chase Co., Chicago ________ 28.70
G. R. Fancy Furn. Co., Grand R. 19.50
Joseph Nyhof, Holland __________ 10.08
Consolidated Adv. Corp., San Diego,
Cant: oe oe 40.00
Union Bed & Spring Co., Chicago__ 52.10
Baids, Inc., New York ___._-. 156.00
Central Car & Storage Co., Allegan 2.00
Galewood Outfittinfi Co., Grand R. 91.50
Gazette; Allesan. oo eee eg es 26.38
Phillip Drinkaus Co., Detroit ____ 10.18
Cuyahoga Picture & Lamp Co.,
Cleveland 205) aes ee 80.00
Baker Furn. Co., Allegan ________ * 93.50
Golden Star Polish Co.. Kansas City 10.00

Luxury Furn. Co.. Grand Rapids__ 296.63

Linoleum Fixture Co., Grand Rapids 38.50
Peck & Hil Furn. Co., Chicago __ 49.00
Rose Carving Co., Grand Rapids__ 6.00
Regent Theater, Allegan ____ 12.00
News, Allepam ie 33.20
Allegan Lumber Co., A,llegan ____ 7.00
Herald, Fennville 0 6.10
Stein & Griswold Co., Allegan ____ 1.00
Phillips Bros. Allesan 00 40.18
Cook Ol} Co. Avicwan 22 25.95
Gerrit DeGroot, Grand Rapids 25.74
Bush Lane Piano Co., Holland ____ 403.13
Allegan Wood Craft, Allegan ____ 125.00
Century Music Co., New York ____ 15.00
Grand Ledge Furn. Co., Grand L. 93.00

St. Johns Table Co.. Cadillac ____ 26.50
Wilkens Mfg. Co., White Plains,
N.Y

Western Mich. Music Co., Grand R. 348.78
Allegan County Credit Exchange,
Allegan 20.00
Allegan Used Auto Parts Co., Alle. 35.70
Goodwill Greeting Card Co., unknown 8.76
Dode’s Garage, Allegan ___.._
Mutchler Coal Co., Allegan ______
Allegan Moor Sales, Allegan ______ 12.50

Alma Johnson, Oak Park, Ill. ____ 76.00
Mrs. Albert Maskey, Jr., Allegan __ 8.00
Brank. Webr, Alleran (0 7.85
Mrs. Paul Smith, Allegan _ 2.21
Tri County Tele. Co., Allegan ____ 15.27

In the matter of Leland E. Sumner,
Bankrupt No. 4161, the trustee has filed
his final report and account, and a final
meeting of creditors was held Feb. 13.
The bankrupt was not present or rep-
resented. The trustee was _ present.
Claims were proved and allowed. The
trustee’s final report and account was
approved and allowed. An order was
made for the payment of expenses of
administration and preferred claims.
There were no dividends. No objections
were made to the discharge of the bank-
rupt. The final meeting then adjourned
without date, and the case will be closed
and returned to the district court, in due
course.

Feb. 17. We have to-day received the
schedules, reference and adjudication in
the matter of Ira J. Elliott, Bankrupt
No. 4396. The bankrupt is a resident of
Grand Rapidds, and his oceupaion is that
of a laborer. The schedule shows assets
of $250 of which the full amount is
claimed as exempt. with liabilities of
$1,726.61. The court has written for funds
and upon receipt of same the first meet-
ing of creditors will be called.

In the matter of Frank Damico, Bank-
rupt No. 4118, the trustee ha’ filed his
final report and account, and a final
meeting of creditors was held Feb. 13.
There were no appearances. The trus-
tee’s final report and account was arp-
proved and allowed. Claims were proved
and allowed. An order was made for the
payment of expenses of administration,
as far as funds would permit. There
were no objections to the discharge of
the bankrupt. The final meeting then
adjourned without date, and the case
will be closed and returned to the dis-
trict court, in due course.

Feb. 17. We have to-day received the
schedules, reference and adjudication in
the matter of Floyd M. Parslow, indi-
vidually and doing business as Pars'-~
Radio Shop, Bankruvt No. 4400. The
bankrupt is a resident of Muskegon
Heights. and his occupation is that of a
salesman and radio renair man. The
schedule shows assets of $2,327.24 of which
$850 is claimed as exempt. with liabilities
of $13,085.41. The court has written for
funds and upon receipt of same the first
meeting of creditors will be called.

Feb. 17. We have to-day received the
schedules, reference and adjudication in
the matter of Oscar McKinney, Bankrupt
No. 4399. The bankrupt is a resident of
Benton Harbor, and his occunation is that
of a factory foreman. The schedule
shows assets of none with liabilities of
$3,164.55. The court has written for funds
and upon receipt of same the first meet-
ing of creditors will be called.

Feb. 17. We have to-day received the
schedules, reference and adiudication in
the matter of Floyd Evans, Bankrupt No.
4398. The bankrupt is a resident co
Kalamazoo, and his occupation is that’ of
a salesman. The schedule shows assets
of $300, with liabilities of $3,505.58. The

court has writen for funds and upon re-
ceipt of same the first meeting of cred-
itors will be called.

In the matter of Charles P. Thomson,
doing business as Interstate Management
Co., Bankrupt No, 4125, the trustee has

filed his final report and account and a
final meeting of creditors was held Feb.
13. The trustee was not present. The
bankrupt was not present. An order was
made for the payment of expenses of
administration and payment of a first and
final dividend to general creditors of 13
per cent. Claims were proved and al-
lowed. No objections were made to the
discharge of the bankrupt. The final
meeting then adjourned without date,
and the case will be closed and returned
to the district court. in due course.

Feb. 18. We have to-day received the
schedules, reference and adjudication in
the matter of Charles J. Roos, Bankrupt
No. 4401. The bankrupt is a resident of
Muskegon, and his occupation is that of
a building contractor. The schedule
shows assets of $6,932.77 of which $2,550
is claimed as exempt, with liabilities of
$7,297.15. The court has written for funds
and upon receipt of same the first meet-
ing of creditors will be called.

Feb. 18. We have to-day received the
adjudication and reference in the matter
of Ultra-Nu Basket Co.. of Niles, Bank-
rupt No. 4383. This is an involuntary
case and the schedules have been ordered

filed... The bankrupt concern is located
at Niles.
Feb. 18. We have to-day received the

adjudication and reference in the matter
of I. K. Parsons & Sons, copartnership
composed of Isaac K. Parsons and Charles
Hi. Parsons, Bankrupt No. 4290. This is
in involuntary case and the schedules
have been ordered filed. The bankrupts
are residents of Grand Rapids.

In the matter of Clarence Smith, Bank-
rupt No. 4391. The funds have been
received and the first meeting of cred-
itors has been called for March 6.

In the matter of Harry O. Nelson, doing
business as Nelson’s Furniture €o., Bank-
rupt No, 4397. The first meeting of cred-
itors has been called for March 6.

In the matter of Floyd Evans, Bank-
rupt No. 4398. The funds have been re-
ceived and the first meeting of creditors
has been called for March 6.

In the matter of Harry E. Doxey, Bank-
rupt No. 4380. The funds have been re-
ceived and the first meeting of creditors
has been called for March 5.

In the matter of Arthur W. Kaufman,
Bankrupt No. 4382. The funds have been
received and the first meeting of cred-
itors has been called for March 5.

In the matter of Automobile Tire Co.,
Bankrupt No. 4358. The first meeting of
creditors has been called for March 5.

In the matter of James B. O'Leary,
Bankrupt No. 4394. The funds have been
received and the first meeting of cred-
itors has been called for March 5.

In the matter of William J. Cooper,

Bankrupt No. 4388. The funds have been
received and the first meeting of cred-
itors has been called for March 5.
_In the matter of Automobile Tire Co.,
Bankrupt No. 4358. The sale of assets
has been called for March 6, at the prem-
ises formerly occupied by the bankrupt
a 443 Division avenu, S., Grand Rapids.
The stock consists of new tires, tire cov-
ers, tubes, etc., together with attendant
fixtures and equipment, all appraised at
approximately $2,645.79. All interested in
such sale should be present at the date
and time above stated.

Feb. 19. We have to-day received the
schedules, reference and adjudication in
the matter of Thaddeus Sloma, Bankrupt
No. 4402. The bankrupt is a resident of
Grand Rapids, and his occupation is that
of a machine operator. The schedule
shows assets of $275 of which $60 is
claimed as exempt, with liabilities of
$1,555. The court has written for funds
and upon receipt of same the first meet-
ing of creditors will be called.

Feb. 20. We have to-day received the
schedules, reference and adjudication in
the matter of Charles B. Mess, Bankrupt
No. 4403. The bankrupt is a resident of
Walker township, and his occupation is
that of a merchant. The schedule shows
assets of $630.75 of which $430.75 is claim-
ed as exempt, with liabilities of $26,845.60.
The court has written for funds and upon
receipt of same the first meeting of cred-
itors will be called. The list of creditors
of said bankrupt is as follows:

State Of Michican oo $ 31.91
City of Grand Rapids 2 343.75
Fred Burleson, Saranac __________ 164.91
Wilbur Pennock, Lowell __________ 204.96
Vera Kellar, Grand Rapids ________ 231.00

Donald Grant, Grand Rapids ______ 21.90
Amer. National Bank, Grand R. 2,700.00
G. R. National Bank, Grand Rap. 165.00
Peoples Bank of Muskegon ______ 350.00
G. R. National Bank, Grand Rap. 420.00
Citizens Nat. Bank, Grand Rapids 420.00
Citizens Industrial Bank, Grand R. 385.00

White Sewing Mach. Co.. Grand R. 60.19
3asch Co., Grand Rapids ________ 45.50
Heyman Co... Grand Rapids ____:_ 45.00

R. M. Ralston, Kalamazoo ______ 2,769.19
India Tire & Rubber Co., Akron 4,436.72
Detroit Majestic Prod. Co., G. R. 1,395.24
Firestone Tire & Rub. Co., G. R. 1,192.67
G. R. Trust Co., Grand Rapids __ 635.00
ReRliable Tire & Access. Co., G.R. 513.69
Carl Rinner, Grand Rapids ________ 360.50
Herald, Grand Rapids ____________ 334.54
M_-_rs. C. Witte, Grand Rapids __ 185.00

G. Bauer, Grand Rapids —~____.____ 141.80
Advance Trailer, New York ______ 105.00
Old Kent Bank, Grand Rapids ____ 100.00
Press. Grand Rapids... 98.25
Merchants Service Bureau. G. R. 92.25

Mich. Bell Tele. Co., Grand Rapids 70.00
Echo Publishing Co., Grand Rap. 69.00

Tom’l Credit Co.,

Sherwood Hall Co., Grand Rapids 69.28
Osborne Co., Newark, N 53

Grand Rapids__ ,
Ruffe Battery, Grand Rapids ______ 51:07

G. R. Westward, Grandville _____ 49.60
B. F'. Rohloff, Grand Rapids ____ 40.16
United Autographic Register Co.,

CHICA RO) 22 0.00
H. B. Connor & Sons, Grand Rap. 35.00
Ackerman Hlec. Co.. Grand Rapids 39.07
Consumers Power Co.. Grand Rap. 58.89
3rown & Bigelow, St. Paul, Minn. 30.00
Litscher Elec. Co., Grand Rapids 28.00
Steil Mfg. Co., Grand Rapids ______ 24.60
Shelby Salesbook, Shelby. Ohio ____ 23.38
G. DeGroot, Grand Rapids ________ 13.65
J. P. Gordon, Columbus, Ohio ____ 10.00
Rim & Wheel Service, Grand Rap. 10.00
Hazeltine & Perkins, Grand Rapids 9.47
Tisch-Hine Co., Grand Rapids __ 6.75
Gas Co.. Grand Rapids .... = ¢s 6.03

Doric Lodge, Grand Rapids _______ 5.00

Continental Mfg. Co., Indianapolis 3.37
inde Air, Ghicaso. 22 ge . 4.00
Tisch Auto Supply, Grand Rapids__ 2.20
G. R. Welding Supply Co. G. R. 2.00
Watson Hardware Co.. Grand Rap. 1.25
Bixby Co., Grand Rapids —___._._ 1.00
Mr. DeGroot, Grand Rapids ______ 00

10.
G. R. National Bank, Grand Rap. 200.00
Al’s Garage, Grand Rapids _______ 18

EP. Brandt. unknown 22 8.00
Cook’s Service Sta., Grand Rapids 44
H.R. Grant. Grand Rapids -10
Re €: Huff; Grand Rapids 22... -20
Herley’s Garage, Grand Rapids __ -56
Wm. C. Ingalls, Grand Rapids ____ 1.00
EB. Loucks, Grand Rapids 2... 1.00
R. L. Murray, Grand Rapids _____ 11.47
Fred Newburg, unknown __________ 85
A. Pani: Grand Rapids: 2 | 3.50
John Rudnick, Grand Rapids _____ .05
Swanson’s Garage, Beulah ________ .09
John J. Wyatt, Grand Rapids _____ 102.22
J. C. Wakeland, Grand Rapids _.._ 1.00
Radio Station, Grand Rapids ______ .20

J. N. Trompen & Co., Grand Rapids 32.50
Mich. Bell: Tel. Co., Grand Rapids 8.92
Gas Co., Grand Rapids 5
Consumers Power Co., Muskegon__
R. B. Grant, Grand Rapids 31.67
Murray’s Garage. Grand Rapids __
Henry Dykstra, Grand Rapids ____ 6.00
Herpolsheimer Co., Grand Rapids 23.81
Thomas B. Bennett, Muskegon ___ 250.00
American Laundry, Grand Rapids’ 6.00
Ward & Strawhecker, Grand R. unknown
W. M. Burling, Grand Rapids ____ 50.00
Walter W. Smith, Grand Rapids __ 37.50
Feb. 20. We have to-day received the
(Continued on page 30)

 

Sand Lime Brick

Nothing as Durable
Nothing as Fireproof
Makes Structure Beautiful
No Painting
No Cost for Repairs
Fire Proof Weather Proof
Warm in Winter—Cool in Summer

Brick is Everlasting
GRANDE BRICK CO.
Grand Rapids.
SAGINAW BRICK CO.
Saginaw.

 

 

Jennings’ Pure Extracts
Vanilla, Lemon, Almond, Orange,
Raspberry, Wintergreen.
Jennings Flavoring Extract Co.
Grand Rapids, ‘Mich.

 

 

I. Van Westenbrugge

Grand Rapids - Muskegon
(SERVICE DISTRIBUTOR)

Nucoa

KRAFT({) CHEESE

All varieties, bulk and package cheese

‘“‘Best Foods”’

Salad Dressings
Fanning’s
Bread and Butter Pickles

Alpha Butter

TEN BRUIN’S HORSE RADISH and
MUSTARD
OTHER SPECIALTIES

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

4

MICHIGAN TRADESMAN

February 25, 1931

 

HOTEL DEPARTMENT

News of Interest To Hotels and
Hotel Men.

Los Angeles, Feb. 21—Someone
suggests that a loving cup, similar to
the one given Sir Thomas Lipton, be
bestowed upon Will Rogers for having
done more, through his personal efforts
toward relieving drouth sufferers, than
any other single individual in the wide
world. It ought to be made unani-
mous.

 

 

Lieut. Col. U. S. Grant is asking
Congress for $12,000 to properly ven-
tilate the Executive Mansion. From
my observation I would suggest that
the Colonel is locating this require-
ment in the wrong pew. It is the edi-
fice with the big dome at the other
end of Pennsylvania avenue that needs
not only ventilating but fumigating as
well. Reminding me that Samuel
Untermyer, the famous’ New York
lawyer, in an address before the Uni-
versity Club here, one day last week
said: “I venture to assert that on the
whole, a more generally untrained body
of National, state and local legislators
and one of lower intellectual stand-
ards is not to be found in any civilized
country on earth. Ours is the veritable
paradise for the demagogue and ig-
noramous in public life.’ Congress ac-
tion on both the drouth relief and vet-
erans’ bonus legislation would indicate
it. Statisticians report that when the
Nation was young and unsophisticated
that it cost 20 cents per capita to carry
on a term of Congress. Now, an in-
ferior service, costs $38 per inhabitant
of these United States. Presumably it
will be laid to the “lame ducks,” but
it is in the expense account just the
same.

The Federal Government has issued
another warning advising the unem-
ployed to keep away from the Boulder
Dam district. Already there are at
Las Vegas, Nevada, three times as
many workmen as well be required at
any time during the next year, and
there is little prospect, for months, of
activities which will requires the ser-
vices of more than a few hundred. I
know what I am talking about, having
paid a recent visit to that locality. Will

Rogers may be called upon to start an- .

other campaign to relieve the legitimate
residents of the Nevada town, unless
something is done to head off this
horde of unemploved.

 

Some years ago Tupper Townsend
of Hotel Whitcomb, St. Joseph, had a
wordy controversy in the National Ho-
tel Reporter with Abe Frank, manager
of Hotel Ambassador, Los Angeles,
over the respective merits of Florida
and Southern California as winter re-
sorts. We all read these articles with
a great deal of interest. The results
were what one might call a “draw.” I
would hate to ‘get tangled up with
either of the two gentlemen in a dis-
cussion over this “capacious” topic,
but having spent much time in either
of the states mentioned, I am inclined
to think they were both right so far
as the winter season is concerned, but
I do agree firmly with the Los Angeles
Chamber of Commerce in their broad-
cast of the great advantages of the
Pacific State over the Atlantic penin-
sula, when it comes to increasing the
scope to “all the year round.” Of the
asserted 385,000 transients who visited
California in 1930, distributed over
every month of the vear, the further
assertion is made that 15 per cent.
never went back East at all and that
65 per cent. announced their determina-
tion to come back and settle here. Few
of these visitors, prior to reaching us,
visioned California as a future home.
But the long, sunny days, the purple
mountains, cloudless skies, cool nights,
the free and easy life, made their im-
press upon the major portion of these,
and they soon forgot the old New
England home, the old Kentucky

home, and the other old homes. The
tourists of last winter became in large
degree “settlers” and began sending let-
ters of praise back East. To be sure
there were what I might call the true
tourists, the people who just came out
to see California. They liked the win-

_ ter and a lot of them “hung on” to get

a taste of “dread summer,” and they
are still here. The transition from
winter to summer was so gradual and
easy they never noticed the change.
At Christmas time all California was
a bed of roses, and in mid-summer
there were still the roses, the temper-
ed sunshine, and out on the plains and
hills, where no human hand scattered
a seed or turned a sod, the whole land-
scape bloomed out into a vast expanse
of verdure with thousands of strange
but beautiful flowers, while the or-
chards were fragrant with the citrus
fruits, in bloom and in fruition at the
same time and on the same trées.
There were, to be sure the warm days,
but always in the shade there were the
cooling breezes and the nights—well
you mostly know all about them and
the demand for blankets. But the point
I most want to make is, that East
had ceased to be “back home.” The
spell of the sun-kissed land by the
sunset sea had taken possession of
their hearts. The tourist became a
“settler.” the settler, an “old settler’
and soon became regretful because he
could not claim the distinction of be-
ing a “native son.” Again reverting to
the discussion between the Michigan
and Los Angeles hotel men, it seems
they are speaking of the Christmas
holiday period, and not the year’s aver-
age, so I have no quarrel to pick with
either of them. ;

 

It looks as though the legal con-
troversy over the invention of the
cafeteria idea and equipment might
prove a serious one. There seems
never to have been a patent issued un-
til long after it had become generally
in use: but some “bright genius” suc-
ceeded in getting one finally, and the
real trouble is just starting. The
various organizations engaged in pur-
veying food, have taken up the cudgel,
are gathering together the “sinews” of
war and propose to contest the issue
to the bitter end.

Clarence Saunders, the chain store
man, and the originator of the “Piggly
Wiggly” system, may be the sole own-
er of his name, but California author-
ities have ordained that his two stock
companies, organized out here are
“phoney,” that they are ~- all losing
money at a rapid pace and that any
further stock promotion will be dis-
couraged. California is a sort of
breeding hive for chain store activities,
but Clarence has seemingly gone to
the limit in his activities, and even
brings the blush to the corporation
commission.

 

President Hoover has expressed
alarm over the annual postal deficit,
now around $100,000,000, and proposes
to make up the difference by raising
the postage on letters by one-half
cent. Another war-tax, as it were, in
time of peace. The annual deficit of a
few millions each year, has always
worried the statesmen and Govern-
ment heads. The postal department
is the only one which renders the pub-
lic a real service, the only one which
really returns dividends to them.
Every other expenditure is lost for-
ever, and: never heard of again, but
this particular, and I might say, inti-
mate service, the most important of
all, must, according to the president
and others, be self-supporting. It
would be much more nearly so if the
franking privilege were abolished, as
well as subsidies to aviation and mer-
chant marine lines, all of which are
charged to the postal department. As
to the latter, if it is the duty of the
Government to encourage air and ship
lines as military defense measures, that

 

 

CODY HOTEL

GRAND RAPIDS

RATES—$1.50 up without bath.
$2.50 up with bath.

CAFETERIA IN CONNECTION

 

 

 

 

Republican Hotel
MILWAUKEE, WIS.
Rates $1.50 up—with bath $2 up
Cafeteria, Cafe, Sandwich Shop
in connection

 

NEW

Decorating
and
Management
Grand Circus Park. Oyster Bar.
800 Rooms - ee 800 Baths

Rates from $2.50.

HOTEL TULLER

HAROLD A. SAGE, Mgr.

Park Place Hotel
Traverse City
Rates Reasonable—Service Superb
Location Admirable.

GEO. ANDERSON, Mgr.
ALBERT J. ROKOS, Ass’t Mar.

 

 

 

 

 

 

MORTON .
HOTEL

Grand Rapids’ Newest
Hotel

400 Rooms -% 400 Baths

RATES
$2.50 and up per day.

HOTEL KERNS

LARGEST HOTEL IN LANSING

800 Rooms With or Without Bath
Popular Priced Cafeteria in Cen-
nection. Rates $1.56 up.

E. S. RICHARDSON, Proprieter

 

 

 

NEW BURDICK

KALAMAZOO, MICHIGAN
In the Very Heart of the City
Fireproof Construction
The only All New Hotel in the city.

Representing
a $1,000,000 Investment.
250 Rooms—150 Rooms with Private

Buropean $1.50 and up per Day.
RESTAURANT AND GRILL—
Cafeteria, Quick Service, Popular

Prices.

Entire Seventh Floor Devoted to
Especially Equipped Sample Rooms
WALTER J. HODGES,
Pres. and Gen. Mgr.

 

 

“A MAN !IS KNOWN BY THE
COMPANY HE KEEPS”

That is why LEADERS of Businesa
and Society make their head-
quarters at the

PANTLIND
HOTEL

“An entire city block of Hospitality”
GRAND RAPIDS, MICH.
Rooms $2.25 and up.
Cafeteria -i- Sandwich Shop

HOTEL OLDS

LANSING
300 Rooms 300 Baths
Absolutely Fireproof
Moderate Rates
GEORGE L. CROCKER, Manager.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Warm Friend Tavern
Holland, Mich.
Is truly a friend to all travelers. All
room and meal rates very reasonable.
Free private parking space.
GEO. W. DAUCHY, Mgr.

In
Kalamazoo
It’s
PARK-AMERICAN

 

George F. Chism, Manager

 

 

Occidental Hotel

FIRE PROOF
CENTRALLY LOCATED
Rates $2.00 and up
EDWART R. SWETT, Mer.
Muskegon ete Michigan

 

 

: Columbia Hotel
KALAMAZOO
Good Place To Tie To

 

 

; HOTEL
CHIPPEWA

HENRY M. NELSON, Manager
Plan

‘opean
.MANISTEE,. MICH.
Up-to-date Hotel with all Modern
Conveniences—Elevator, Etc.
150 Outside Rooms
Dining Room Service
Hot and Cold Running Water and
Telephone in every Room.

$1.50 and up
60 Rooms with Bath $2.50 and $3

 

 

 

 

 

“We are always mindful of
our responsibility to the pub-
lic and are in full apprecia-
tion of the esteem its generous
patronage implies.”

HOTEL ROWE
Grand Rapids, Michigan.
ERNEST W. NBIR, Manager.

 

 

 

- -

ty

 

 

we Rey
te
”-
«&
4
i
o
‘ ‘ ~
+ 4 >
ad
ome
\ ‘
{
‘
y 2¢
¢ a4

 

 

February 25, 1931

extra cost should not be loaded on the
backs of users of the mails, but should
be paid out of other Government funds.
A few years ago. it was the parcels
post that was causing all the uneasi-
ness, so up went the postage rate, and
down went the earnings of that ser-
vice. Cheap postage encourages letter-
writing and the distribution of pub-
lications of all class. The Interstate
Commerce Commission has, after all
these years, made the discovery that
high railroad fares do not create earn-
ings, but drive away business. Let the
public get a sight of the pork barrel
even if it is only half a cent on their
letters. They may feel more lenient
toward other economic leaks.

 

Distribution of display emblems to
members’ of the American Hotel As-
sociation has begun. Every member of
a state association is also a member
of the National organization, if his own
association has affiliated therewith,
consequently if you belong to the
Michigan body, you will be getting one
of these plates in due time. It is be-
lieved these signs will help create busi-
ness for the hotels that display them,
but they will also create an incentive
to outside hotels to join their state or-
ganization.

 

A gold loving cup celebrating his
fifty years as a hotel operator in De-
troit, was presented to Charles W.
Norton, president of the Norton Hotel,
in Detroit, and the Norton-Palmer
Hotel, in Windsor, by Harold A. Sage,
manager of Hotel Tuller, and retiring
president of the Detroit Hotel As-
sociation, on ehalf of the members of
that organization, at their annual meet-
ing held last week. In making the
presentation, Mr. Sage pointed out the
fact that Mr. Norton was one of the
founders of the Detroit Hotel Associa-
tion and had always ‘been a hard and
efficient worker in its interests, his
efforts in assisting the organization in
its troubles with the help situation be-
ing specifically mentioned. The ca-
reer of the guest of honor commenced
with his operation of a 25 room hotel
at Thirteen Mile Road and Grand
River avenue, later taking over the
Triangle Hotel, at Grand River, and
what is now known as Chicago boule-
vard, then the hotel at the corner of
Griswold and West Jefferson, which
he renamed the Norton. After oper-
ating this property for fifteen years, he
built the present Norton Hotel, finally,
in 1928, erecting the Norton-Palmer in
Windsor, which last year he found it
necessary to double in size. After the
presentation ceremonies those assem-
b'ed sat down to one of those informal
banquets for which the Statler is
famous. I am glad they wave Charley
this cup. I will see that it is used when
I get back to Detroit next summer. If
not in Detroit, why then, Windsor. Mr.
Norton certainly deserves it all. He
has been one of my warmest friends
for many years, has a heart of gold,
the friendship of more traveling men
than you ever heard of, and is always
just the same, genial happy individual
to meet, and his hotels are models of
hospitality. He may call this “bunk,”
but if it were not, he would deserve it
a‘l the same.

 

Here is one that is mellowed with
age: A guest hurried up to the hotel
clerk’s counter. He had just ten
minutes to pay his bill, reach the sta-
tion and board his train. “Hang it,”
he exclaimed, “I’ve forgotten some-
thing. Here boy, run up to room 427
and see if I left my pajamas and shav-
ing set. Hurry! I’ve only ‘five minutes
now.” The boy hurried. In four
minutes he returned, empty handed and
out of breath. “Yes, sir,’ he panted,
“vou left them.”

Work has begun upon the inspection
of the thirty-eight hotels affiliated with
the Detroit Hotel Association, by the
Michigan Inspection Bureau, to deter-

 

MICHIGAN TRADESMAN

mine the fire hazard and to offer sug-
gestions for alterations that will re-
duce fire insurance rates. When the
Detroit hotels have been checked, the
inspectors will proceed with the same
work among the houses of the State
affiliated with the Michigan Hotel As-
sociation, under the direction of-a
committee appointed at the last annual
meeting, headed by W. L. McManus,
Jr., proprietor of the Cushman House,
at Petoskey.

—>——

Hotel Claridge, one of the newest
Atlantic City offerings, was opened to
the public last week. Its manager,
Roscoe J. Tomkins, is well known ‘to
Michiganders and ‘Michigan hotel op-
erators. He was assistant manager at
the Book-Cadillac, Detroit, at its start,
but prior to that time was an executive
at Hotel Blackstone, Chicago.

 

It gives me much pleasure to an-
nounce the accession of Earl Greene
as manager of Hotel Capitol, one of
the recent creations of the H. R. P.
Hotel Corporation, at Flint. For years
Mr. Greene operated Hotel Crystal,
Flint, which was one of the most popu-
lar abiding places for commercial men
in that city. Last season he managed
the Pine Lake Country Club, near
Lansing. I am glad he is back in the
regular field and know he will be in
touch once more with all his old
friends. He was always an ardent
member of the Michigan Hotel As-
sociation, and used to be of wonderful
help to me in enticing new members
into the fold. Best wishes to you,
Earl.

 

Charles H. Clements, proprietor of
the Park Hotel, at Mt. Clemens, was
recently host to a large group of hotel
and resort managers at a luncheon. It
was the occasion of a joint meeting of
the Southeast Michigan Tourist and
Publicity association and the “Thumb
of Michigan” association.

A. G. Berner, who several years ago
purchased the Hotel Wildermuth,
Owosso, and assumed management of
same, succeeding Ray Reynolds, dis-
posed of his interest in same to J. K.
Daily, some four years since. I no-
tice that Mr. Berner has repurchased
this property and presumably will op-
erate it once more. Ray Reynolds is
general manager of the new hotel, the
Owosso.

The business men of Bad Axe are
talking about a community hotel for
that enterprising little city, claiming
that a new hostelry will bring thous-
ands of dollars worth of tourist busi-
ness into that section. Of course this
may be true. They already have two
very good hotels there, if my memory
serves me right, the Irwin and Mor-
row, which have performed satisfactory
service for years, and I should presume
would continue to function even if a
new hotel were built. Building a com-
munity hotel in a locality where it is
needed, and erecting one where at best
it will have less than three months’
business each year are two different
propositions. It may work out in Bad
Axe, but I will watch the process with
much interest,

 

W. S. Buckley, owner and operator
of Hotel Majestic, Detroit, has been
joined in the business by his brother,
Gerald. Richard Calahan is manager
of the house, which has 250 rooms, and
was erected about five years aon. W. S.
Buckley was the builder and owner of
several Detroit hotels, including the
Roe, Tremont, Henry and the older
Savoy.

 

The Illinois Hotel Association ‘has
finally gone on record as being opposed
to the practice of complimenting the
bills of the wives of commercial men
who registered in with their husbands
on occasional trips.

The Michigan association has dis-

cussed this proposition on various oc-
casions, but the concensus of opinion
seemed to be that it was a matter that
should be governed by the discretion
or inclination of the operator in’ each
instance. Yéars ago, when most of the
country hotels were operated on the
American plan, it: was the custom,
where a regular patron of the hotel
brought his wife with him on an oc-
casional trip, to compliment her bill,
and little was said about it. When the
hotels moved over on to the European
plan, there was less reason for depart-
ing from the custom, for the reason
that the meals were a separate item
and were usually paid for. It still
looks to me as though the whole mat-
ter should be left to the individual ho-
tel keeper, and is not one for associa-
tion regulation. In the instances-men-
tioned it seems more like an act of
courtesy between friends, and might
be left at that.

 

A wonderful combination for a tasty
dessert I ran across in a French res-
taurant here, the other evening. I
solicited and obtained the recipe which
I pass on ‘to my restaurant and hotel
friends. Select the plumpest and
juiciest dried figs you can get, wash
carefully and pinch into their natural
shape. Then select good, firm apples
and core them. Into the-center of
these apples press two or three of the
figs, place them in a baking pan and
bake in a hot oven. While they are
baking baste them with a svrup made
from lemon juice, granulated sugar
and water. The secret of producing
good baked apples is to have them
thoroughly baked, but not into pieces.
If, when they look done, they are not
soft to the core, nlace a cover ever the
baking dish and let them steam for a
few minutes. Then remove the cover
and brown ‘the fruit slightly. They
may be served with cream or in their
own juice, but vou have my word for
it that they are delicious and may be
added to your “specialty” list.

The base ball interests are trying to
get rid of Judge Landis. Originally
engaged as court jester at $42,000 per
year, on the strength .of the $29,000,000
joke he played on the ‘Standard Oil
Company, which “flatted’”’ because, un-
fortunately, the S. O. Co. never heard
of it, they have discovered that the
public go to see ball games and not
Punch and Judy shows. As a disciple

of Nero, the Judge did very well for a,

while, but when the got to that point
that no morning meal could be con-
sidered complete without the oppor-
tunity of passing an inhuman sentence
on some poor victim who committed
some technical violation of the law,
even the executives at Washington be-
gan to tune in, with the result that
such malefactors as were not pardoned
by President Wilson, were immediate-
ly turned loose after the inauguration
of Harding. Now, he wants to con-
tinue these same thigh-handed tactics
in the base ball realm, and the backers
of the game don’t feel as though they
wanted to laugh it off. It is easy to
see that they have the royal clown
ensconced on ‘the “skids” and he will
soon slide to oblivion to make a living
out -f Indiana politics. He may bump
into the movies, if so, that will be his
finale. Frank S. Verbeck.

——_»»->____

Closing Out the Pearce Chain Stores.

Bay ‘City, Feb. 24—A meeting in
Federal Court of the creditors of the
Pearce Stores Co., called by the First
National Bank, receiver, resulted in the
decision to close out the business as
rapidly as possible without reverting
to bankruptcy proceedings. Judge
Arthur J. Tuttle stated that he would
immediately sign an order placing
broad powers of disposal with the re-
ceiver,

The order will provide for retail
sales of merchandise in each store for
a few days, and the subsequent con-
centration of left-over stocks in the

a 25

stores at the best selling points for
continued reduction sales. Following
that, the receiver will be allowed to
sell the chain as a whole or ‘in units,
as a going ‘concern, ‘at the best price
possible. 4

The decision came on the heels of
a period of several weeks during
which the business has been operated
under the receivership. In the report
of the receiver, the gross sales in the
20 stores from Jan. 23 to Feb. 14
amounted to $54,948.60. The loss was
estimated at $14,159.27 despite the
fact that the cost of operation had
been reduced by $6,000. a

Five methods of rapidly winding up
the business were submitted to the
court and creditors by Paul Thomp-
son, trust officer of the ‘First National
Bank, as a result of the losses sustained
over the period of receivership.

The replacement value of the stocks
in the stores Feb. 14 was figured at
$256,045.55, and the ‘book vaiue of the
fixtures was placed at $192,250.56.
Since the claims have not all been en-
tered, the total liability of the com-
pany is not yet known.

About thirty of the creditors were
present at the meeting. W. B. Henry
represened the receiver as counsel.

——-+

Late Business Notes From Indiana.

Indianapolis—Funeral services for
Frank J. Noll, 'Sr., 78, founder of the
Gem Garment ‘Co., were held Monday.
Mr. Noll founded the garment com-
pany thirty-six years ago. Survivors
are a daughter and five sons.

Albion—A. E. Elin, 65, senior part-
ner and manager of the Albion Overall
factory, died recently of heart disease.
The body was taken to the family
home in Chicago, where the funeral
was held.

Franklin—William A. Carpenter, 71,
a merchant tailor in this city for more
than fifty years, died at the family
home following a two weeks’ illness.
The widow and two sons survive.

Rockport—Harry D. Ballard, of this
city, who for the past several years
has bought fur and wool for the S. S.
Silberman & Sons Co., of Chicago,
throughout the West, died in a hos-
pital in San Francisco and the body
was brought here for burial. He is
survived by the widow and one son.

—--+>___

Albion — The Albion Automotive
Products Corporation, Mulberry and
Huron streets, has been incorporated
with a capital stock of $25,000, all of
which has been subscribed and $4,000
paid in.

 

New Hotel Elliott
STURGIS, MICH.

50 Baths 50 Running Water
European

D. J. GEROW, Prop.

 

 

Hotel and Restaurant
Equipment
H. Leonard & Sons
38-44 Fulton St., W.
GRAND RAPIDS, MICH.

 

CHARLES RENNER HOTELS

Four Fiags Hotel, Niles, Mich., in
the picturesque St. Joseph Valley.

Rumely Hotel and Annex, La-
Porte, Ind.

_Edgewater Club Hotel, St. Joseph,
Mich., open from May to October.

All of these hotels are conducted
on the high standard established
and always maintained by Mr.
Renner.

 

 

 

 

. coosecoi gene

 

DRUGS

Michigan Board of Pharmacy.
President—Orville Hoxie, Grand Rapids.
Vice-Pres.—Clare F. Allen, Wyandotte.
Director—Garfield M. Benedict, San-

dusky.

Examination Sessions — Beginning the
third Tuesday of January, March, June,
August and November and lasting three
days. The January and June examina-
tions are held at Detroit, the August
examination at Marquette, and the March
and November examinations at Grand
Rapids.

 

Michigan State Pharmaceutical
“Association.
President—John J. Watters, Saginaw.
First Vice-President—Alexander Reid,
Detroit. :
Second Vice-President — F. H. Taft,

Lansing.
Secretary—R. A. Turrell. Croswell.

Treasurer—P. W. Harding, Yale.

 

Ten Cent Table in the Drug Store.

The other day I ‘received a letter
requesting me to call on Mr. C :
head of a chain of drug stores. In ac-
cordance with this request I presented
myself the next morning at Mr. C ’s
office and, in due course, was ushered
into his presence.

 

 

“We have been considering,” he in-
formed me, “the installation of ten
cent tables in our stores. Naturally,
before we proceed with the expense
and annoyance of such an installation,
we would like to know what degree of
success other drug stores are having
with them, their influence on sales and
sales units, etc—and that is the reason
for your being here now, for you have
been mentioned to us as a person who
has previously undertaken surveys of
this sort.”

Details arranged, Mr. C—— and I to-
gether drew up a list of questions
which covered every angle of the ten
cent table proposition, armed with
these, I set out on my quest for in-
formation.

In a week I visited sixty-two drug
stores, selected at random, in all sec-
tions of New York City. Thirteen of
the stores I called at didn’t have ten
cent tables, and nine of the owners
interviewed for some reason or other
could or would vouchsafe no informa-
tion. The remaining forty operated
ten cent tables and had no hesitation
in talking about them. I present here-
with the questions I put to these drug-
gists and the consensus of opinion
expressed in their answers:

1. Does the installation of a ten cent
table tend to increase or decrease your
total volume of business?”

It was the unanimous opinion of my
forty interviewers that their ten cent
tables undoubtedly increased their to-
tal volume of business. It is signficant
to here note that all those who had
tried it were pleased with the resuls
—the opponents of the idea were the
ones who hadn't tried it.

The average weekly sales of the
forty ten cent tables which I saw
totaled $26.10.

2. Is there any profit in operating
a ten cent table?

All of them admitted that the mar-
gin on ten cent goods was small, and
that, necessarily, the percentage of
profit in the department was small.
It did, however, all things considered,
more than pay its own way.

As one druggist put it, “I don’t ex-
pect to be able to retire on what this
table brings in, but it earns its keep

 

MICHIGAN TRADESMAN

plus a little over, and it certainly is
bringing quite a few dimes in here that
used to be spent elsewhere.”

3. Will not the presence of ten cent
sizes make “shelf warmers” of larger
sizes of the same article?

The consensus of opinion was “no”.
When a customer asked for an article
without specifying size or cost, he was,
as a matter of course, offered the article
in the regular sized package. It was

only in response to a definite request

for the ten cent size that this merchan-
dise was offered and, in such cases, not
having the ten cent size in stock would
have done more harm than having it
could possibly do. The ten cent table
is thus shown to be a factor in making
friends and customers.

4. ‘Why do you have a ten cent
table? : :

The principal justification of the ten
cent table advanced by my forty inter-
viewees was that it was necessary to
prevent the loss of customers to the
five and ten cent stores and to the cut
rate stores,

Some of the druggists surprised me
by the depth of their understanding of
the situation by advancing the opinion
that druggists, by establishing ten cent
tables will tend to decrease—not in-
crease—the number of articles manu-
factured in ten cent sizes. As proof
of their contention they submit that
ten cent packages were originally put
up at the request of the 5 and 10 cent
stores, who enjoyed a virtual monopoly
of these sizes. If druggists carry them
also, however, the five and tens will
not be so anxious to handle them
and, furthermore, will stop looking
around for other items, now carried by
drug stores, which could be packed in
ten cent sizes. Therefore the manufac-
turer, losing his chief customer for his
ten cent package, will eventually dis-
continue it, since it is only by large

‘ volume production and distribution that

he can make any profit on it.

Other reasons advanced for having a
ten cent table were that ten cent mer-
chandise sells with little or no effort
on the part of the salesperson; that ten
cent tables provided an excellent outlet
for the free merchandise in deals: and
that, also, they were a means of. dis-
posing of higher priced items of dead
or slow-moving stock.

5. Is the ten cent table business
seasonal?

The consensus of opinion seems to
be that the ten cent table does a fairly
stable business all year round, varying
a little, of course, according to the na-
ture of the items carried. Its biggest
period—if it has any—comes in July
and August. This is an interesting fact
because it seems to indicate that small
sizes are in demand because of the
convenient size of the package rather
than because of the lower price.

6. Where is the best place in the
store for the ten cent table?

Twenty-nine of my interviewers, af-
ter having tried various positions all
over the store, had finally placed their
ten cent tables in or near the center
of the store. The remaining eleven
declared that the logical place for it
was near the wrapping table.

The advocates of both positions
advanced the same reason for their

choice: that was the position in which
the table attracted the most attention.

On one point, however, they all
agreed: that the best table for the
purpose was a single deck flat top
table of a size commensurate with the
store’s needs.

7. What does the ten cent table
sell?

Of the forty tables I saw, the average
carried twenty items, the smallest
eight, and the largest thirty-three. The
total number of different items carried
by all numbered thirty-seven, as fol-
lows: bath salts, soaps, perfumes, pe-
roxides, hair tonic, rouge, powder, man-
icure items, vanishing creams, cold
creams, tooth brushes, tooth pastes,
petroleum jelly, headache remedy,
toothache remedy, epsom salts, razors,
razor blades, styptic pencils, brushes,
sponges, combs, safety pins, gauze
bandage, adhesive plaster, absorbent
cotton, machine oil, furniture polish,
paste and glue, writing tablets, ink, in-
secticides, tooth picks, bird gravel, wall
paper cleaner, men’s handkerchiefs,
candies,

Among these the best sellers were
declared to be petroleum jelly, men’s
handkerchiefs, candy (both bar and
bulk goods), toilet soaps, cold cream,
insecticides, writing tablets and ink.

8. What do you do in the way of
advertising for your ten cent table?

Most of my forty interviewers, be-
yond affixing a sign to the table, read-
ing “Your Choice—10c” did nothing
else to advertise it.

A few had signs placed in other parts
of the store calling attention to the
table.

One or two arranged an occasional
window display featuring their ten cent
items and calling attention to the table.

None of them did more than this,
yet the average weekly sales came to
$29.10 per table.

The ten cent table seems to have
made a case for itself,

Morris H. Whitcomb.
—_——_——_-2->_____
Pharmacy Candidates Successful in
January Examination.
Registered Pharmacist—First
Examination,

Raymond L. Baker, Detroit.
Lloyd A. Beemer, Wyandotte.
Alcha Brumfield, Wyandotte.
Thomas M. Curtis, Lansing,
Lloyd Littleton. Dutton, Detroit.
Olga B. Kravchell, Detroit.
Albert J. Liss, Detroit.

Robert S. Morrison, Traverse City
George Alden Stanley, Detroit.
Michael Wainer, Detroit.

Raymond B. Wissick, Detroit.
Registered Pharmacist—
Re-examination,

Jacob Altman, Detroit.

Carpenter F. Devereaux, Detroit.
Adam A. Kwietniewski, Detroit.
Simon Leibovitz, Detroit.

Soi Lunsky, Detroit.

Victor F. Serino, Detroit.

Registered Assistant Pharmacist—

First Examination.
Edwin H. Gullekson, Manton.
David H. Horwitz, Detroit.

Stanley Joseph Tutaj, Detroit.
Registered Assistant Pharmacist—
Re-examination,

Julius Forman, Detroit.
Clarence C. Gerard, Detroit,

February 25, 1931

John P. Juntunen, Detroit.
Samuel J. Leavitt, Detroit.
William F. McIntosh, Detroit.

David H. Safier, Detroit.
—_+~-+___
Important Business News in a Nut-
shell.

Employment conditions improved in
January, according to the United
States Employment Service, although
the figures of the Labor Bureau of
Statistics do not support this view.
The reason for the seeming discrep-
ancy, it is said, is that the figures tell
the story of a limited field while the
observations of the service cover the
whole field.

Colonel Leonard FP. Ayres of the
Cleveland Trust Company finds in the
number of blast furnaces in operation
in January the first real evidence that
the turn for the better has come.

Procter & Gamble distributed nearly
a million dollars in profit-sharing divi-
dends last year, according to an an-
nouncement just made, the largest
amount ever paid on that account to
the company’s employes. Eastman
Kodak last week anticipated by from
three to six months more than half its
regular annual wage dividend, the
amount disbursed being $1,401,883, to
quicken the buying power of its em-
ployes. Beneficiaries are the men laid
off in 1930 and most of the employes
in the plants in Rochester,

Safeway Stores is the butt of an ap:
plication by the attorney-general of
Nebraska for a district court order re-
straining the company from continuing
ununiform prices in the seventy-five
stores it operates in that state. The
law invoked forbids a corporation to
charge different prices for the same
commodities in different localities with-
in the state. The ‘Merchants’ Associa-
tion of Nebraska and the Independent
Grocers’ Alliance complained that the
law was violated in under-selling them.

The manufactured tobacco industry
is one that seems to flourish in spite of
dull times. All the big American com-
panies, especially those with popular
brands of cigarettes, did well last year,
Now comes the report of Imperiai
Tobacco of Great Britain showing in-
come of $47,030,000, 2 per cent. more
than in 1929,

Cigarettes imported into China, a
good customer of this country for these
products, are to be stbject for six
months to an excise tax equal to half
their value.

Georgia’s chain store tax law has
been found in violation of both state
and Federal constitutions, in a judg-
ment pronounced by the supreme court
sitting in Atlanta. A discriminatory
assessment of $50 on each store above
five is the offending provision.

J. C. Penney, department store chain,
and Kroger Baking, grocery chain,
published interesting income state-
ments for 1930 last week. Penney’s
sales amounted to $192,943,765, 8 per
cent less than the year before, while
net income was $8,290,622, a decrease
of nearly 26 per cent. Profit on sales
was 4.3 cents on the dollar last year,
compared with 5.3 cents in 1929.

Kroger’s sales were down 6.8 per
cent to $267,086,028 and net was off
63 per cent. to $2,168,247. Profit on
sales was 0.8 cents on the dollar
against 2.06 cents the year before,

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Amber, rectified
ni 2

Worm, American 3 40
Worm, Lavant _ 6 50@7 00

Vanilla Ex. pure 1 50@2
Zinc Sulphate __

February 25, 1931 -MICHIGAN TRADESMAN 27
Western Michigan Grocer Company We would ask therefore that im- WHOLESALE DRUG PRICE CURRENT
Closes Its Doors. mediately upon receipt of this letter
Grand ‘Rapids, Feb. 19—We have you wire your acceptance of the pro- : :
been endeavoring to secure additional position above outlined. We will then Prices quoted are nominal, based on market the day of issue.
capital in order sa hap ey aE orcs pay out ue more money to anyone, = Acids Cotton Beek 1 2501 50 Benzoin Comp’d_ @2 40
be operated profitably, but negotia ions cepting for necessary expenses, an i Powd.)_. 10 @ 20 ubebs -_...... 5 00@5 25 Buchu -_________
for the necessary additional capital operate exactly as if the business were = Gan 10 @ 20 Eecanes — . ee = aaa = 52
have fallen through; and it is the de- in the hands of a creditors’ committee - Carbolic -----—- 38 @ - Hemlock, pure. 2 00@2 25  Catechu _--~-~~ @l 44
cision of the Board of Directors of this or in receivership, making a pro-ratio a -------- oo g Juniper Berries_ 4 50@4 75 Cinchona ________ @2 16
company that the business be liquidat- distribution of the money collected - en 8 ae iG sumer | Woes - 2 cae) 75 Galion ce a: 30
ed, the creditors paid, and if there is promptly as possible. We believe a Oxalic 1000. 6b @ . ery Noo yee ee : fa
money remaining after the creditors are distribution of 50 per cent. can be Sulphuric --_-.. aa 55 Lavender Flow__ 6 00@6 25 Gentian _______ —~ @123
paid, that such money be divided made within fifteen days and the bal- Tartarie Perrier Gar’n_ 1 25@1 50 ausme —— 2 28
among the stockholders. ance in a short time thereafter. : Geeta Linseed, boiled, bbl. @ 83 Jlodine -.. > = @1 25
The condition of the company on Kindly mail us a statement showing Water, 26 deg...07 @ 18 Linseed, raw, bbl. @ 38) Iodine, Colorless. @1 50
ater, ae 15 linseed, bld., less 90@1 03 irom: Clas 2 @1 56
January 1 was solvent, the accounts the status of Our account on your Water, 18 deg.__ 06 @ Linseed raw, less 87@1 00 Feino, 2 e @1 44
receivable, merchandise and equipment books at this time, in order that we Water, a deg._- os = Mustard, artifil. oz. @ 30 Myrrh _.......~ @2 52
representing an amount equal to 140 may check same against our records. a “Gran. 08 @ 18 Neatsfoot ___” 1 25@1 35 es Vomica ____ 1 80
per cent. of the bills payable. It is not Also wire your acceptance promptly psd: ss” 3 06@5 00 Gnacnn. a er “
a case of bankruptcy proceedings or of upon receipt of this letter, or if you Satins ae ee 250@3 00 Opium; Deodorza O65 40
the appointment of a receiver. The do not elect to have us handle the ete 00@1 25 Olive, Malaga. Rhubarb ________ @1 92
entire indebtedness as of this date will matter in the manner outlined, advise pyr (Canada) __ 2 75@3 00 green ________ 2 85@3 25 :
not exceed $20,000. We plan to liqui- us by wire and we will be forced to ir (Oregon) -- aaa & Orange, Sweet 6 00@6 25 Paints
date this business within the next ten take action which most certainly EB “TT $ sees 35 ounce boon : ons - ee red dry -- 1834%@13%
days, but of course it may take longer would not be of any advantage to any- pene Pennyroyal ce 3 25@3 50 Lead, nie “ i3eOie
before the accounts receivable are col- one except the Court. Barke Peppermint an 75  Uchre, yellow bbl. @ 2%
4 : di = : : se, pure ____ 00 Uchre, 1
lected and the equipment disposed of. Western Michigan Grocer Co Cassia (ordinary). 25@ 30 Rosemary Flows 150@175 Red Venet'n Am. 24g 1
The merchandise is all salable, the ac- Ean Cassia (Saigon)  40@ 60 Sandelweod, a Red Venetn tmz, 49 7
counts receivable are good, the equip- Sassafras (pw. 60c) @ 50 Ec is wets 5 rae . =:
ment is new, as anyone can realize To Change Store Figures. — Cut Gewd.) 20@ 30 Sassafras, true 200@2 25 Whiting, bbl. ‘@ 4
when it is taken into‘consideration that Several important changes will fea-  35¢_ --------—--- portisiairne! arti’l ‘75@1 00 Roce ead outs 2° @10
pF pst: has only been in business ture the report on merchandising sta- Berries sea i 3092 7B ees
eight months, tistics and operating expenses by de- §Gyubeb @ 90 *any ----_______ 7 00@7 25 Msceillaneous
ee eee Tar USP 2...
It has been through . oat . the partments for 1930 to be issued soon (‘or ie 1e a Turpentine, bbl. a ie aan Shia can é
merchandising profit that the aDONe 4S ihe Controllers’ Congress of the Pucbe Ag Tr-7~ @ 7% urpentine, Iss 63@ 75 Alum. powd. and
action is necessary, but 1ather the in- aoe : : norareen, ground __ . 6@ u
ability to secure sufficient capital to National Retail Dry Goods Associa- pa — ~~~-----—-- 6 00@6 25 = Bismuth, Subni-
support the large volume of business _ tion. AEE ageaecans 60@ 75 ng ~ Teas a Bone a 00@2 40
secured by the company, and the se- “To meet the demand for figures that Licorice, powd. -- 60@ 70 Wintergreen. cst 75@100 Powdered ______ 06@ 13
vere and extraordinary loss suffered : Worm Seed -___ 6 00@6 25 Cantharides, po. 1 25@1 50
during the time the merchandise of the ight be used as standards of mary Flowers Wormwood, oz. __ @100 Calomel | >" 2 72@2 82
National Grocer Company was thrown performance, a new set of statistics, Apnion oe 15@ 80 Camaicum, pow’ : 820 75
on the market, at less than cost, by the the ‘goal figures,’ will be shown for the Chamomile Ged.) 30@ 40 Potasslum Cassia Buds ____ 30@ 40
receiver—a feature which could uot six groups of stores, de artmentaliy, Chamomile Rom. @ 90 Bicarbonate _____ 35 a9 | (loves 40@ 50
h b f d which w b- aie . . : Bichromate 15@ 25 (halk Prepared 14@ 16
solutely ruinous in its effect. We hope fF merchandising and expense,” it was Gums Bromide = 99 85 Choe ec, OO
Ss . : a
to wine the affairs of this company up Stated by H. I. Kleinhaus, manager hee ee 60 Gee. aan 4g a Cocaine iliniahgg .
quickly and at the least possible ex- the Congress. “These new tables will sae. ho lees ee bs Chlorate, powd. 16@ 23 or eater --- 50@ 90
pense. We believe we can do this be in addition to the median fuurcs’ .eoae paadancd 4uw ov Cyanide SEAS 220 90 of ae  tO-10%
much better than anybody else without shown as usual. The ‘goal figure’ will Aloes (Barb Pow) 39@ 4a leds 4 34@4 56 Copperas ________ 03@ i0
bei i d. W i ‘ i Aloes (Cape Pow.) 25@ 35 pe, 2 Copperas, Powd. 4
any legal expense being incurred. We f 2 25 ermanganate __ 22%@ 3, © ‘as, | @ 10
contemplate closing the merchandising be the one selected as the point of  ‘Aloes — Pow.) me ms Prussiate, yellow 35@ 45 Gene Sublm 2 25@32 3u
: space aS Asafoetida -____- : og
end of the business March 1, eliminat. Concentration in the most favorable 25 a @ 75 cs —— ao a Cuttle bone ___ ae -
ing all expenses excepting that of col- per cent. of the figures. CamsBbor Ee, 8iw » nae ee Powis oso 5
ar : y AG : < a sualac —--______._ Owder 4 uu
baleve ou wi agree that hi pos qucat he ection wil give a reor. Guts sowa= & roots Bee alee gt
: . Ft OF ONE In: Ae oO ry ‘owde:
cedure is for the best interests of all duction of an actual report of oie Kino, powdered__ @12y Alkanet _________ 0@ 40 Epsom Salts, nis Sean
concerned, as nothing is to be gained €@¢h group that has done an out- Myrrh ----..-__. @115 Blood. powdered, 40@ 45 Ypsom Salts, less 3%@ 10
, ' standingly good job.” Myrrh, powdered wi25 Calamus ________ 5@ 65 ‘rgot, powdered __“@4
by any other method, gly g : Upium, powd. 21 00@z1 50 Elecampane, pwd. 20@ 30 Flake. White ___is@ 20
Upium, gran. 21 oe ud Coe” poe. - 20@ 30 Formaldehyde, lb. 09@ 35
Shellac, Orange 4 5 r, rican, elatine 8u
Shellac, Sis ne se oo a 30@ 35 ea leas 55% ea
c canth, Ww. i : Ware, full
dimgecenar -~'s cog? Singer Jamsict; “82 60 Clean g. ia ate cay,
° Turpentine ______ i Powdered ____ 45@ 60 tauber Salts less 04 10
Goldenseal, pow. 6 00G5 60 Glue, Brown ____ 20@ 39
ne Ipecac, powd. __ 4 00@4 69 © Glue, Brown Grd 16@ 22
Insecticides Licorice ______ 35@ 49 Glue, White ____ 27%@ 35
Arsenic --._.... 08@ 20 licorice, powd._. 20@ 30 oe white grd. 25@ 35
Blue Vitriol, bbL @ 07 Oris, powdered. 45@ 50 (Glycerine ~~ 17%%@ 40
Blue Vitriol, less 08@ 15 hea Powdered 25@ 40 To, ee 5 @, 9%
1 pee wi. [Une ce 6S ae oS d0o8 30
Hellebore, White ih . Lead Acetate
powdered -.____ 15@ 25 Sarsaparilla, Hond. M -- 17@ 25
Insect Powder._ 47%@ 60 s8round _________ @1 10 — mia: £9
PARIS GREEN lime and Suiphes OO" Samaperilla, Mexic. @ 60 Montngy wort, @! 60
Lime and Sulphur ECE 5 40 fea ee ‘
Dry ---____ 09@ 23 Squills, powdered 700 380 . Nue yee iss 13 58@1¢ 33
LIME AND SULPHUR varia Gres 380 48 omer, "Sowa? fog $2 | Nur Vomica~ 72 O36 38
LEAD (D Ter tee — © & ree, ee eee
ARSENATE OF ( ry) Leaves Pepper, White, D. 15@ 85
Pitch, Bur,
Buehu 920 @ 50 — Quassia oe — so -
ARSENATE OF CALCIUM (Dry) Buchu, powdered | @ 60 Anise ________ ---20@ 30 Quinine, 5 om 22
Sage, — a ae s aoe powered ao 35 Secnule Salts __ 23@ 35
Sage, oose _. r Se 17 CC! ne 3
BORDEAUX MIXTURE (Dry) eas, powdered. 38 Canary’ B@ Mf Seecharine —"_ 8092 is
. aoe Se na e coraret. Po. be Poe . cmatite Mixture 30@ 49
enna, Tinn. pow. ardamon -____ Oap, green ___ 15
OXO - BORDEAUX DRY Uva Ure 300 % Goyender pow. .20 15@ 25 Soap, mott cat" 32
eo eee as cap. white Castile,
BLUE VITROL Etc Fennell _________ 35@ 60 case ___ 1
: : = Flax 6%@ 15 Soap, white Gastile 22>
ee ee i 5 tile
Flax, ground __ 6%@ 15 less, per bar ___
Now in Effect for 1931 nero a "pagies, 7907 7S nenureck, swe. “i8@ He Soda anew TQ!
: a Bitten. emp carbona‘
Price Schedule Now in ect for a 138 Sous eat He
: tion OP ee ustard, yellow D ‘amphor
Ask Our Salesmen or Write For Prices. Almonds, Sweet coi oy Mumra, Back’ 3 3g spittle Camuphor 20
Almonds, Sweet, | non ---------.. 15@_ 25 Sulphur, Subl. __ 4%@ 10
tation __.. 100@1 25 Quince -________ 2 25@2 50 Tamarinds ___—~ “20@ 26
Amber, crude 75@1 00 Sa@badilla ________ 45@ 50 Tartar Emetic __ 70@ 75
° a Sunflower _______ 12@ 18 Turpentine, Ven. 50 7
Se 75 %
60
ll

Grand Rapids

 

Hazeltine & Perkins Drug Co.

Michigan

Manistee

 

 

 

Tinctures
Aconite ... @1 80
Alges @1 66
Asafoetida ______ @2 28
Brice 2 @1 50
Belladonna _____ @1 44
Benzoin -....... @2 33

Venilla Ex. pure 2 25@2
06@

Webster Cigar Co.
Websterettes
Cincoa, 20 ee 38 60
Webster Cadillacs __ 75 00
Golden Wedding
Panatellas
Commodore

Brands
50

 

 

MICHIGAN TRADESMAN

February 25, 1931

 

GROCERY PRICE CURRENT

These quotations are carefully corrected weekly, within six hours of mailing

and are intended to be correct at time of,
liable to change at any time,

going to press. Prices, however, are
and merchants will have their orders filled at mar

ket prices at setae of purchase. For price changes compare with previous issues

z= =

 

 

ADVANCED DECLINED
Raisins Rice
AMMONIA Kaffe Hag, 12 1-lb Strawberries
Parsons, 64 oz. __..._ 2 95 Gag 615 No 222 25
Parsons, 32 oz. --__-_ 3 35 All Bran, 16 oz. _____ ee NO. 8 3 00
Parsons, 18 0z. ______ 420 All Bran, 10 oz. -_____ 270 Marcellus, No. 2 .____ 3 25
Parsons, 10 oz. ______ 270 All Bran, % oz. -__. 2 00 Pride of Mich. No. 2.. 3 75

 

per doz. 9 40

10. Ib. pails,
15 Ib. pajis, per doz. 12 60

25 lb. pails, per doz. 19 15
25 lb. pails, per doz. 19 15

APPLE BUTTER
Quaker, 24-21 oz., doz. 2 10
Quaker, 12-38 oz., doz. 2 35

BAKING POWDERS
Arctic, 7 oz. tumbler 1 35
Royal, 10c, doz. ~----- 93
Royal, 4 oz., doz. ~-. 1 80
Royal, 6 oz., doz. ---- 2 45
Royal, 12 oz., doz. -- 4 85
Royal, 5 Ib. -------- 40
KC, 10c size, 8 oz. -- 3 70
KC, 15c size, 12 oz. __ 5 50

KC. 20c size, full lb._. 7 20
KC. 25c size. 25 oz. -- 9 20

KG, 50¢ size, 50 oz. -- 8 80
KC, 5 Ib. size __------ 6 85
ac 10. ib. size —— é 75
K. C. Brand

Per case
10c size, 4 doz. -----. 3 70
l5c size, 4 doz. ~--- 5 60
z0c size, 4 doz. —--.-- 7 20
25c size. 4 doz. ----.- 9 20
60c size, 2 doz. —----- 8 80
80c size, 1 doz. ------ 6 85
10 lb. size, % doz. -.-- 6 75
BLEACHER CLEANSER
Clorox, 16 0z., 248 -. 3 8
Lizzie, 16 oz., 128 ~-.. 2 16

BLUING

Am. Ball,36-1 oz.,cart. 1 00
Quaker, 1% oz.. Non-

freeze, dozen  .----- 85
Boy Blue, 36s, per cs. 2 70
Perfumed Bluing
Lizette, 4 0oz., ae
Lizette, 4 oz., 248 .. 1
Lizette, 10 oz., 12s __ 1 #0
Lizette, 10 oz., 24s —. 2

BEANS and PEAS
100 Ib.

ol. Lima Beans ----
Bla, ck Eye Beans --
Split Peas, Yellow -- 5.60
Split Peas, Green -~--- 6.50
Scotch Peas ------ 4 95

BURNERS
aoe om No. 1 and
White Flame, No. 1

and 2, doz.

BOTTLE CAPS
Obi. Laeguor, 1 gross .
-» per gross —__-
BREAKEAST FOODS
Kellogg’s Brands.
Corn Flakes, No. 136 2 85
Corn Flakes, No. 124 2 85
Pep, No. 224 _.-_-.. 2 70
Pep, No. 202 —...---- 2 00
Krumbles, No. 424 -_. 2 70
Flakes, No. 624 2 45
Bran Flakes, _ 602 1 =
Rice Krispies, 6 oz. -. 27
Rice Krispies, 1 oz. -. 1 i0

ROLLED OATS
Purity Brand
Instant Flake, sm., 24s 1 80
Instant Flake, sm., 48s 3 60
Instant Flake, lge., 18s 3 40
Regular Flake, sm.,24s 1 80
Regular Flake, sm., 48s 3 60
Regular Flake, lg., 18s 3 40
China, large, 12s --.. 315
Chest-o-Silver, lg., 12s 3 25

Post Brands.
Grape-Nuts, 24s ------ 3 80
Grape-Nuts, 100s ---. 2 75
Instant Postum, No. 8 5 40
Instant Postum, No. 10 4 50
Postum Cereal, No. 0 2 25
Post Toasties. 36s -. 2 85
Post Toasties, 24s -_ 2 85
Post’s Bran, 24s ---- 2 70

sere “

et; a8.
Seam dard “Pasilor, 23 Ib. 8 25
Fancy Parlor, 23 Ib.-. 9 25
fx. Fancy Parlor 25 Ib. 9 75
Ex. Fcy. Parlor 26 Ib. 10 ~4

 

Whisk, No.3... 2 16
BRUSHES
Scrub
Solid Back, 8 in. ---. 1 50
Solid Back, 1 in. ~~. 1 75
Pointed Ends ~-----.. 1 25
Stove
SHOKOr pe 1 380
ee ae
Peerless -------.------ 2 60
Shoe
No. 4-0 _..._....._.._. 2 ©
Ne. 25 3 00

BUTTER or .

Dandelion —...-.--..--
CANDLES

Electric Light, 40 lbs. 12.1

Plumber, 40 Ibs. ~.-- 12.8

Paraffine, 6s ------ --- 14%

Paraffine, 12s ------- 14%

Wicking ~------------- 40

Tudor, 6s. per box -. 30

CANNED FRUITS

Hart Brand
Appies
No: 10 2 5 75
Blackberries
No: 2 2 15
Pride of Michigan -... 3 25
Cherri

es
ich. red, No. 10 ----11 75
Red No. 12 25

Pride of Mich. No. 2_-

Marcellus Red ----. 3 10

Special Pie —--—--. 2 60

Whole White -.-_----- 3 10

Gooseberries

NO 30 2s 8 00
Pears

19 oz, Slaes 2

Pride of Mich. No. 2% 4 20
Plums

Grand Duke, No. 2%. 3 25
Yellow Eggs No. 2%... 3 25

Black Raspberries
MO: Pa 3 75
Pride of Mich. No. 2_. 3 25
Pride of Mich. No. 1_. 2 35

Red Raspberries
4 60

INOS 2s
Ns ee aie 3 15
Marcellus, No. 2 ___.. 3 75

Pride of Mich. No. 2.. 4 25

CANNED FISH
Clam Ch’der, 10% oz.
Clam Chowder, No. 2_
Clams, Steamed. No. 1
Clams, Minced, No. &
Finnan Haddie, 10 oz
Clam Bouillon, 7 oz.
Chicken Haddie, No. 1
Fish Flakes, small ao
Cod Fish Cake. 10 oz.
Cove Oysters, 5 oz. __
Lobster, No. %, star
Shrimp, 1, wet —_____
Sard’s, % Oil, Key __
Sard’s, 4% Oil, Key —
Sardines, \% Oil, k’less 4
Salmon, Red Alaska__

HaSeheSTRRASSRSAK

Sardines, Im. \, ea. _ io
Sardines, se

Sardines, Cal. __ 1 33@2 3
Tuna, %, Curtis, doz. 3 60
Tuna, \%s, Curtis, doz. 2 20
Tuna, % Blue Fin —-. 2 25

Tuna, 1s, Curtis. doz. 7 00
CANNED MEAT
Bacon, Med. Beechnut 2 70
Bacon, Lge. Beechnut 4 50
Beef, No 1, Corned _. 2 80
Beef No. 1, Roast __ 3 00
Beef, 2 oz., Qua., sli. 1 36
Beef, 3% oz. Qua. sli. 2 25
Beef, 5 oz., Am. Sliced 3 00
Beef, No. i, B’nut, sli. 4 50
Beefsteak & EER, & 3 70
Chili Con Car., 1s _.. 1 35
pevina eet Ge ae
evile --.. 3 85

Hamburg Steak &
Onions, No. 1 ...... 3 15
Potted Beef, 4 oz. ____ 1 10
Potted Meat, % Libby 62
Potted Meat, % Libby 90
Potted Meat, % Qua. &
Potted Ham, Gen. % 1 45

Vienna Saus. No. % 1 35
Vienna Sausage, Qua. 30
eal Loaf, Medium __ 2 25

Baked Beans
Campbells

Snider, No. 1 ~....___ 1 10
Snider, No. 2 -.-...__ 1 25
Van Camp. small _... 90

Van Camp, med. -... 1 45
CANNED VEGETABLES
Hart Brand

Baked Beans
Medium, Plain or Sau. 75
No. 10, Sauce -_______ 5 60

Lima Beans
Little Dot, No. 2 -.. 3 10
Little Quaker, No. 10.14 00
Little Quaker, No. 1. 1 95
%y ee 7
Pride of Mich No. 1.. i 65
Marcellus, No. 10 .___ 8 75

“ Kidney Beans

oO. ee ee ae oe
No. 5. eee ee 3 70
ae 2 ee 1 30
NOS oe 90

String Beans
Little Dot, No. 2 ___. 3 30
Little Dot, No. 1 ____ 2 50
Little Quaker, No. 1._ 2 00
Little Quaker, :
Choice Whole, No. _. 75
Choice Whole, No. 2__ 2 50
Choice Whole, No. 1_. 1 80

Cut, No. 19 223s 10 50
ARG, NO Bc 2 10
Cut Ned iss

Marcellus, No. 2... 1 60

Marcellus, No. 10 _... 8 25
ax Beans

Litlet nee No. 2 __.. 2 75

Little Dot, No.3} = 2

00
Little Quaker, No. 2__ 2 65
Little Quaker, No. 11 90
Choice Whole, No. 10_12 50
Choice Whole, No. 2_. 2 50
Choice Whol, No. 1__ 1 75

eee wm wnn wwe

-- 1 45
Pride of Michigan -. 1 75
Marcellus Cut, No. 10_ 8 25

Beets
Small, No. 2%  -.__.. 3
Etxra Small, No. 2 __ 3 00
Fancy Small No. 2 .. 2 50
Pride of Michigan .. 2 25
Marcellus Cut, No. 10. 6 75
Marcel. Whole, No. 2% 1 85

Carrots
Diced, No. 2 —..._._ -~- 1 40
Diced, No. 10 —___.___ 7 00
Corn

Golden Ban., No. 3_. 3 60
Golden Ban., No. 2.. 2 00
Golden Ban., No. 10.10 75
Little Dot, No. 2 --.. 1 80
Little Quaker, No. 2.
Little Quaker, No. 1. 1 45
Country, Gen., No. 1. 1 45
Country Gen. No. 2_. 2 05
Pride of Mich., No. 5. 5 20
Pride of Mich., No. 2. 1 70
Pride of Mich., No. 1. 1 35
Marcellus, No. 5 -... 4 30

Marcellus, No. 2 -... 1 40
Marcellus, No. 1 -... 1 15
Fancy Crosby, No. 2.. 1 80
Fancy Crosby, No. 1_. 1 45
Peas
Little Dot, No: 2 ____ 2 60
Little Dot, No. 1 __.. 1 80
Little Quaker, No. 10 12 00
Little Quaker, No. 2__ 2 40
Little Quaker, No. 1_. 1 65
bifted E. June, No. 10-10 00
Sifted E. June, No. 5. 5 75

Sifted E. June, No. 2_. 1 90

Sifted E. June, No. 1__ 1 40
Belle of Hart, No. 2_. 1 90
Pride of Mich., No. 10_ 9 10
Pride of Mich., No. 2. 1 75

Gilman E. June, No. 2 1 40
Marcel., E. June, No. 2 1 40
Marcel., E. June, No. 5 4 50
Marcel., E. Ju., No. 10 7 50
Templar E. J., No. 2 1 32%
Templar E. Ju., No. 10 7 00

  

Pumpkin
ING: 20 ge 50
NO. 2% 1 80
a peace RS ae aac a 1 45
Marcellus, No. 10 _.__ 4 50
Marcellus, No. 244 -__ 1 40
Marcellus No. 2 __-.. 1 15
Sauerkraut
No. 20 2 5 00
NO; 2X6 1 60
No. 2 ee 1 25
Spinach
NO. 2% oe 50
TO 1 90
Gree
Squash
Boston, No. 3 ~__..___ 80
Succotash
Golden ogg No. 2 2 75
Little Dot, No. 2 -___ 2 65
Little Quaker oe 40
Pride of Michigan _.__ 2 15
Tomatoes
No. 40.000 -- 5 80
No. 2% - ~ 2 25
NO. 2... een 1 65
Pride of Mich., - 2% 2 25
Pride of Mich., Ne 2.. 1 60
CATSUP,
Beech-Nut, small __.. 1 60
Beech-Nut, large -.__ 2 40

ss
Lily of Valley, 14 oz... 2 25
Lily of Valley, % pint 1 65

Sniders, 8 oz. ...____. 1 55
Sniders, 16 oz. —..___ 2 36
Quaker, 10 oz. -..._. 1 35
Quaker, 14 oz. -____ 80

Quaker, Gallon Glass 12 00
Quaker, Gallon Tin __ 7 26

CHILI SAUCE
Snider, 16 oz. 3
Snider, 8 oz. --...__. 2 20
Lilly Valley, 8 oz. _. 2 25
Lilly Valley, 14 oz. __ 3 25

OYSTER COCKTAIL
3

  
 

Sniders, 16 oz. ._.___ 15
Sniders, 8 oz. -.____ 2 20
CHEESE
Roaquefort: 22 68
Wisconsin Daisy ______ 18
Wisconsin Flat _________ 18
New York June ________ at
pay 40
Sere —- 19
Michigan Flats __ = 18
Michigan Daisies ______ 18
Wisconsin Longhorn ___ 18
Imported Leyden —_____ 28
1 lb. Limburger ________ 26
Imported Swiss _______ 56
Kraft Pimento Loaf __ 26

Kraft American Loaf __ 4
Kraft Brick Loaf ______

Loa
Kraft, Pinata: “% Ib. 1 90
Kraft. American,

-Kraft, Brick, % Ib. __ 19

Kraft Limburger, % Ib. 1 90
Kraft Swiss, % Ib. .. 2 25

CHEWING GUM

Adams Black Jack __._ 65
Adams Bloodbarsy woew OS
Adams Dentyne -._... 65
Adams Calif. Fruit —-- 65
Adams Sen Sen . _._..: 65
Beeman’s Pepsin ______ 65

Beechnut Wintergreen_
Beechnut Peppermint__
Beechnut Spearmint  _2
Doublemint
Peppermint, Wrigleys _. 65
Spearmint, Wrigleys _. 65
amcy DPruit. 2 65
7? P-K Sm cneesates 65

A

Was Cocoa!

Pcie ee
Cine: meet

 

Droste’s Dutch, 1 Ib... 8 50
Droste’s Dutch, % 1
Droste’s Dutch, 4%
Droste’s Dutch, 5 Ib. 60
Checolate Apples _.-. 4

 
  

Pastelles, No. 1 __
Pastelles, % lb.
Pains De Pale...

Droste’s Bars, 1 doz. 3 00
Delft Pastelles __.._. 2 15
1 Ib. = Tin Bon

ae 18 00
7 oz. ‘Rose Tin Bon

- = ies De Cara- -
= os aoe se oe
% Ib. Rosaces .....--- 7 80
% |b. Pastelles __..-- 3 40
Langnes De Chats .. 4 80
CHOCOLATE
Baker, Caracas, %s -_.. 37
Baker, Caracas, 4s __.. 35

SLOTHES LINE
Femp, 50 ft. -.. 2 00@2 25
7a Cotton,

Ot 2 1 80@2 25
fe SO 2. 2 25
Sash Cord —__.__ 2 50@2 75

COFFEE ROASTED
Bilodgett-Beckley Co.

Old Master -_ _-____ a 40
Lee & Cady
1 ib. Package
AONE Y ee 17
Quaker Vacuum ~—__._. 33
IIGMEPOMW (oe 2916
Morton House --_-____ 37
ene es 27
PRTITIAN oe 39
Majestic. 32

Boston Breakf’t Blend 27

McLaughlin’s Kept-Fresh

 

Coffee Extracts
M. Y., per 100
Frank’s 50 pkgs. -. 4 25
Hummel’s 50 1 Ib. 10%

CONDENSED MiLK
Leader, 4 doz. 7
Eagle, 4 doz.

MILK COMPOUND
Hebe, Tall, 4 doz. -._ 4 50
Hebe, Baby, 8 doz. .. 4 40
Carolene. Tall, 4 doz. 3 80
Carolene, Raby pe 3 50

EVAPORATED MILK

 

Pare “Tan 3 80
Pape, Baby... 3 80
Quaker, Tall, 1034 oz. 3 55
Quaker, Baby, 2 doz. '3 50
Quaker, Gallon, % doz,. 3 50
Carnation, Tall, 4 doz. 3 85

Carnation, Baby, 8 dz. 3 85
Oatman’s Dundee, Tall 3 85
Oatman’s D’dee. Baby 3 85
Every Day, Tall 3 85
Every Day, Baby --... 3 85

Pet, Tal oe 20
Pet, Baby, 8 oz. “--- 410
Borden’s Tall _.-4)_ 4°20
Borden’s Baby -__..._ 410
CIGARS
Alredale 35 00
Havana Sweets _____ 35 Of

Hemeter Champion ~-38 50
Canadian Club _.____ 35 ve
ao Emmett -... 75 00

om Moore Monarch 76 00
Waban Cadillac _... 75 6u
Webster Astor Foil_. 75 00
Webster Knickbocker 95 06
Webster Albany Foil 95 00
Bering Apollos ____.. 95 00
Bering Palmitas __ 115 00
Bering Diplomatica 115 00
Bering Delioses .___ 120 00
Bering Favorita .... 135 00
Bering Albas ____.— 150 ©.

CONFECTIONERY
Stick Candy Pails
Pure Sugar Sticks-600c 4 00
Big Stick, 20 lb. case 17
Horehound Stick, 5 Ib. 18

Mixed Candy
Kindergarten ~_________ L
TORR 2 13
French Creams  ________ 14
Paris Creams: 15
ter ee a 10
Fancy Mixture ________ ii

Fancy Chocolate
5 lb. boxes
Bittersweets, Ass’ted 1 60

Milk Chocolate A A 1 65
Nibble Sticks ~..____- 1 50
Chocolate Nut Rolls _ 1 70

30

Blue Ribbon ~_..______ 1
Gum Drops Pails
PIS oe 15
Champion Gums _______ 15
Challenge Gums __.____ 13
JOy: Strivigs: 22 16
Lozenges Pails

A. A. Pep. Lozenges __ 15
A. A. Pink Lozenges __ 15
A. A. Choc. Lozenges__ 15

Motto Hears t__________ 18
Malted Milk Lozenges __ 21

Hard Goods Pails
Lemon Drops __________ 7
O. F. Horehound drops 16
Anise Squares __________ 16
Peanut Squares ________ 18

Cough Drops Bxs
tne se 1 35
smith Feros 1 50
Pee Ss 1 50

Package Goods
Creamery Marshmallows
4 oz. pkg., 12s, cart. 835
4 oz. pkg., 48s, case 3 4@

Specialties
Pineapple Fudge -.._. 18
Italian Bon Bons -_____ 17
Banquet Cream Mints__ 23
Silver King M.Mallows 1 15
Handy Packages, 12-10c 80

COUPON BOOKS
50 Economic grade 2% a¢
100 Economic grade 4 su
500 Hconomic grade 20 v0
1000 Economic grade 37 5u
Where 1,000 books are
ordered atea time,. special-
ly printed front cover is
furnished without charge.

CREAM OF TARTAR
6 ib. Boxee aia Se

DRIED FRUITS
Apples
N. Y. Fey., 50 Ib. box 13
N. Y¥. Key., 14 oz. pkg. iv

Apricots
Evaporated, Choice -... 17
Evaporated, Fancy --.. 22
Bvaporated, Slabs —___.

Cc
10 lb. box
Currants

Packages, 14 oz.
Greek, Bulk, lb.

Dates
Dromedary, 36s ~..-.. 6 75

Peaches
Evap. Choice
ANC 15

Peel
Lemon, American ------ 28
Orange, American -__-- 28

Raisins
Seeded, bulk ~_------- 08
Thompson’s s’dless blk 07%
scrap <igipa s seedless,

Oz
Sande.

California Prunes
90@100, 25 Ib. boxes__@05%
80@90, 25 lb. boxes--@06
70@80, 25 lb. boxes--@07
. 25 Vb.
25 1b.
25 Ib.
as - =

eo, 3 1b.

15 oz.

boxes_.@08%
poxes__@09%4
boxes--@11%
b. boxes._@15%
boxes.-@17%

boxes__@07™

 

OO .,
*

eed eed PS ed oe

 

 

eeiitt. obtt

RRO RSS

 

¢ i i’
f February 25, 1931

smn SewtiSin

2

PE rc

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MICHIGAN TRADESMAN

 

 

~_ Hominy ;
Pearl, 100 Ib. sacks _. 3 50

Macaroni
Mueller’s Brands
9 oz. package, per doz. 1 30

9 oz. package, per case 2 60.

Bulk Goods —

Elbow, 20 Ib. -___-- 5Y@T%
Egg Noodle, 10 Ibs. -. 14
Pear! Barley

erent es 7 00
Barley Grits --------_ 5 00
Oho ee 3 75
Sage
wast India =o 10
Tapioca
Pearl. 100 lb. sacks __ 09
Minute, 8 oz., 3 doz. 4 05

Dromedary Instant __ 3 50

Jiffy Punch
3 doz. Carton -.-_.__-
Assorted flavors.

2 25

FLOUR
Vv. C. Milling Co. Brands
LAly WWite 22 oo
Harvest Queen ________
Yes Ma’am Graham,
BOR ee ee 2 20

Lee & Cady Brands
American Eagle ___.

Home Baker ___..___.
FRUIT CANS
M

ason
F. O. B. Grand Rapids
Blalf. pint: co 7 50

One pint 2.020 7 75
One quart —-______-.. 9 10
Half gallon _.....____ 12 15
ideal Glass Top
Hatt: pint 0 oo 9 00
One “pint 2 9 50
One quart  ----~----- 11 15
Half galion 0000) 15 40
GELATINE
Jell-O, 3 doz. —-...___ 2 85
Minute, 3 doz. ~_-.-- 4 05
Plymouth, White —__. 1 55
Quaker, 3 doz. ______ 2 25

JELLY AND PRESERVES
Pure, 30 Ib. pails -... 3 30
Imitation, 30 lb. pails 1 85
Pure, 6 oz., Asst., doz. 90
Pure Pres., 16 oz., dz. 2 40

JELLY GLASSES
8 oz., per doz. _.______

OLEOMARGARINE
Van Westenbrugge Brands
Carload Distributor

:

> aw"

 
   
 

Nueoa. 1 ib. 22 17
Holiday: 1 lb. 2 12%

Wilson & a Brands

eo
Sertined 220 eo 20
Rat 13
special Rov 17

MATCHES
Diamond, 144 box -. 4 25
Searchlight, 144 box... 4 25
Ohio Red Label, 144 bx 4 20
Ohio Biue Tip, 144 box 5 00
Ohio Blue Tip. 720-1c 4 00
*Reliable, 144 ________ 3 15
*Federal, 144 ____-___ 3 95

Safety Matches
Quaker, 5 gro. case__. 4 25

MULLER’S PRODUCTS
Macaroni. 9 oz. -----. 2 20
Spaghetti 9 oz. -_---- 2 20
Elbow Macaroni, 9 oz. 2 =

Egg Alphabets. 6 oz.-. 2 20
Egg A-B-Cs 48 pkgs.__ 1 80
NUTS—Whole

Almonds, Tarragona... 19

Brail, Large -...-~---- 23
Fancy Mixed -_ s
Filberts, Sicily ------
Peanuts, Vir. Roasted
Peanuts, Jumbo, std. 13

  

Pecans, 3, star -~----. 25
Pecans, Jumbo ------. 40
Pecans, Mammoth --_ 50
Walnuts, Cal.) ---- oe

Hickory —...s-.:----+4

i

' Salted Peanuts

Bancy,,-No. 1 ------.--. 14
Shelled

Almonds Salted -----.-- 95
Peanuts, Spanish

125 Ib. bags --------- 12

Hilberts 2. 2 32

Pecans Salted ~--.----- 87

Walnut Burdo --------.
Walnut, Manchurian -. 55

MINCE MEAT
None Such, 4 doz. --_ 6 47
Quaker, 3 doz. case -_ 3 50
Libby, Kegs, wet, Ib. 22

OLIVES
4 oz. Jar, Plain,
10 oz. Jar, Plain,
14 oz. Jar, Plain,
Pint Jars, Plain, doz.
Quart Jars, Plain, doz.
1 Gal. Glass Jugs, Pla.
5 Gal. Kegs, each —_--.
3% oz. Jar, Stuff., doz.
6 oz. Jar, Stuffed doz.
9% oz. Jar, Stuff., doz.
1 Gal. Jugs, Stuff., dz.

doz.
doz.
doz

bo Cobo HIF CID em DO

WOODS IID
SRARRSSSRRRT

PARIS GREEN

1s
28 atid 66, 2 es 30

 

Bel Car-Mo Brand

24°1 Ib: Ting 4 35
8 oz., 2 doz. in case -_ 2 65
15 Ib. pais <2
20 1b. patle ooo

PETROLEUM PRODUCTS
Including State Tax
From Tank Wagon

Red Crown Gasoline —_ 16.7

Red Crown Ethyl __-. 19.7

Solite Gasoline ~_--_ 19.7

In fron Barrels
Perfection Kerosine __ 12.6
Gas Machine Gasoline 39.1
V. M. & P. Naphtha__ 20.8

iSO-VIS MOTOR OILS
In tron Barrels

 

  

77.1

7.1

7.1
Ex. Heavy 220200 V7.1

larine
fron Barrels

Tagnt ee ae 65.1
Medium -.-_..-. 65.1
Heavy —.....:- 65.1
Special heavy 65.1
Extra heavy - 65.1
Polarine ‘‘k”’ 2 65.1
Tranmission Oil __... 65.1
Finol, 4 oz. cans, doz. 1 5

Finol, 8 oz. cans, doz. 2 30

 

Parowax, 100 Ib. -___ 7.3
Parowax, 40, 1 lb. —_ 7.55
Parowax;. 20; bb: 5 63
S‘emdac, 12 pt. cans 3 00
Semdac, 12 at. cans 5 00
PICKLES

Medium Sour
5 gallon, 400 count -_ 4 75

Sweet Small
16 Gallon, 2250 -.---- 27 00
5 Gallon, 750 ~_-.-__- 9 75

Dil) Pickles
Gal. 40 to Tin, doz.__ 10 25
No. 2% Tins ~-------_ 2 25
32 oz. Glass Picked._ 2 80
32 oz. Glass Thrown 2 4¢

Dill Pickles Bulk

5 - 200
16 Gal., 650 -_-.._____ 11 25
45 Gal., 1300 ------ «~~ 30 00

PIPES
Cob, 3 doz. in bx. 1 00@1 20

PLAYING CARDS

Battle Axe, per doz. 2 65
Torpedo, per doz. .... 2 50
POTASH
Babbitt’s, 2 doz. ---. 2 75
FRESH MEATS
Beef
Top Steers & Heif. -... 19
Good St’rs & H’f. 1544@17

Med. Steers & Heif. -. 13
Com. Steers & Heif. -. 11

 

Veal
TGp: 2 a5
Good 228 13
Medium: <2.2- 11
Lamb
Spring Lamb. <.2 3-2 = 18
COCs ae 16
Medium oo 14
POOr 22 1¢
Mutton
ee ee ae 12
Medium: 220502 ee 11
POOP eee 10
Loin, med. _
iets oo
Shoulders —-
Spareribs
Neck bones ~------___ 05
Trimmings ~-...______ 08
PROVISIONS
Barreled Pork
Clear Back -_. 25 00@28 00

Short Cut Clear26 00@29 00

Dry Salt Meats
D S Bellies __ 18-20@18-17

Lard

Pure in tierces _______ 914
60 lb. tubs -.._advance 4%
50 Ib. tubs __..advance %
20 Ib. pails ___.advance %
10 Ib. pails _...advance %
5 lb. pails __.__advance 1

3 Ib. pails ____advance 1
Compound tierces .___ 11%
Compound, tubs _____ 12

Sausages

Bolopna: 265 16
River 225 8oe so ens
Hrankfort: 220 20

OP 31
Meal Se 19
Tongue, Jellied ._______ 35
Headcheese .._...______ 18

Smoked Meats
Hams, Cer. 14-16 Ib. @22
Hams, Cert., Skinned

LO-18 Ip. 21
Ham, dried beet q
Caen i oe ei @33

ornia Ha oe
Picnic Boiled ies ie

Hams -____._. 20 @25
Boiled Hams ______ @34
Minced Hams ______ @16
Bacon 4/6 Cert. 24 @28

Beef

Boneless, rump 28 00@36 00
Rump, new __ 29 00@35 00

 

RICE

Fancy Blue Rose ____ 5 10
Fancy Head 07

RUSKS

Dutch Tea Rusk Co.
Brand.

36 rolls, per case ____ 4
18 rolls, per case ____ 2
12 rolls, per case ____ 1
12 cartons, per case __ 1
2

5

otal al bee
aoown

18 cartons, per case __
36 cartons, per case __

SALERATUS
Arm and Hammer __

SAL SODA
Granulated, 60 Ibs. cs. 1 35
Granulated, 18-2% Ib.

packages

3 75

COD FISH
Middies ....2. 20
Tablets, % Ib. Pure _. 19%

G02. 228 1 40
Wood boxes, Pure __ 30
Whole Cod 0.2... 11%

-% Bol,

HERRING
Holland Herring
Mixed, Kegs -~---------
Mixed, half bbls.
Mixed, bbls ~---2-...
Milkers, Kegs ~-.._-- 1 05
Milkers, half bbls. __ 12 50
Milkers, bbls. 22 25

Lake Herring
100 lbs. -_-- 6 50

Mackeral
Tubs, 60 Count, fy. fat 6 00
Pails, 10 lb. Fancy fat 1 50

White Fish
Med. Fanev. 100 Ib. 12 an
Milkers, bbls. —-_---- 18 50
K K K K Norway -- 19 50
S Ib: spatis: 23220 1 40
Cut Lunch __________ 1 50
Boned, 10 Ib. boxes __ 16

SHOE BLACKENING

2 in 1, Paste, doz. -.. 1
E. Z. Combination, dz. 1

Dri-Foot, doz. - --__ 00
Bixbys, Dozz. ~------- 1 35
Shinola, doz. -----.. 90

STOVE POLISH
Blackne, per doz. __
lack Silk Liquid, dz.
lack Silk Paste, doz.
Enameline Paste. doz.
Enameline Liquid, dz.
EB. Z. Liquid, per doz.
Radium, per doz. ____
Rising Sun, per doz.
654 Stove Enamel, dz.

10D Fa tak ft fed Ft et
oo
On

Vuicanol, No. 5, doz. 95
Vulcanol, No. 10, doz. 1 35
Stovoil, per doz. —____ 3 00
SALT

F. O. G. Grand Rapids
Colonial, 24, 2 Ib ~.-. 85
Colonial, 30-14% ______ 1 10
Colonial, Iodized. 24-2 1 35
Med. No. 1 Bbis. -... 2 85
Med. No. 1, 100 Ib. bk. 95
Farmer Spec., 70 Ib. 1 00
Packers Meat, 50 Ib. 65
Crushed Rock for ice

cream, 100 Ib., each 85
Butter Salt, 280 Ib. bbl.4 24
Block, 50 Ib. ~_._.___ 40

 

Baker Salt, 280 Ib. bbl. 4 10
14, 10 lb., per bale _... 1 90
50, 3 lb., per bale -_._ 2 30
28 lb. bags, Table -_._. 87
Old Hickory, Smoked,

6-10 Ib. 4 50
Free Run’g, 32 26 oz. 2 40
Five case lots --._-- 2 30
Todized, 32, 26 oz. _. 2 40
Five case lots -__--- 2 30

BORAX
Twenty Mule Team
84, 1 Ib packages _. 3 35
$8, 10 oz. packages .. 4 40
96, % oz. packages __ 4 00

CLEANSERS

 

80 can cases, $4.80 per case

WASHING POWDERS
Bon Ami Pd., 18s, box 1 90
Ron Ami Cake, 18s --1 62%
Brillo 85
eae. ~~
Grandma, ;
Grandma, 24 Large -. 3 50
Gold Dust. 100s ---~-- 4 00

Gold Dust, 12 Large
Golden Rod, 24 -»-.. 4

La France Laun., 4 dz. 3 60
Old Dutch Clean, 4 dz. 3 40
Octagon, 96S -_-._--- 3 98
Ringo, . 40892253 3 20
Riinso, 248 320 25
Rub No More, 100, 10

OR oS 85
Rub No More, 20 Leg. 4 00
Spotless Cleanser, 48,

DO OR aes 8 85
Sani Flush, 1 doz. __ 2 25
Sapolio, 3 doz. _____- 15
Soapine, 100, 12 oz. _ 6 40
Snowboy, 100, 10 oz. 4 00
Snowboy, 12 Large _. 2 65
Speedee, 3 doz. —___-- 7 20
Sunbrite, 50s ________ 210
Wyandote, 48 ~._.___- 4 75
Wyandot Deterg’s, 24s 2 75

SOAP
Am. Family, 100 box 6 10
Crystal White, 100 __ 3 85
Big Jack, -60s -...____ 475

Fels Naptha, 100 box 5
Flake White, 10 box 8
Grdma White Na. 10s 3
Jan Rose, 100 box ____ 7
Fairy, 100 box _______ 4
Palm Olive, 144 box 9

Lava, 100 box _____... 4 9
Octagon, 120 ____
Pummo, 100 box ____ 4 8
Sweetheart, 100 box __ 5

Grandpa Tar, 50 sm. 2
Grandpa Tar, 50 lege. 3
Trilby Soap, 100. 10c 7
Williams Barber Bar, 9s

  
 

 

  

  

Williams Mug, per doz. 48
SPICES
Whole Spices
Allspice, Jamaica ___. @35
Cloves, Zanzibar -- @47
Cassia, Canton ______ GI
Cassia, 5c pkg., doz. @40
Ginger, Africay _____ @19
Ginger, Cochir --. @40
Mace. Penang _____ 1 39
Mixed. No: © 2.00 | @32
Mixed, 5c nkes., doz. @45
Nutmegs, 70@90 _____ @59
Nutmegs 105-110 __ @me
Pepper, Black 220 26
Pure Ground in Bulk
Allspice, Jamaica __.. @40
Cloves, Zanzibar ___. @53
Cassia. Canton -~ MP2
Ginger, Corkin -- @33
Mustard -222 023 @32
Mace. Penang _______ 1 329
Pepper, Black ______ @30
Nutmess 25202 @43
Pepper, White ________ @57
Pepper, Cayenne ____ @40
Paprika, Spanish ____ @45
Seasoning 2
Chili Powder. 15¢ ____ 1 35
Celery Salt, 3 oz. ____ 95
Same. 2°02, 225 60 05 90
Onion Salt ____ 1 35
Garlic: - 1 35
Ponelty, 3% oz. ____ 3 25
Kitchen Bouquet ____ 4 50
Laurel Leaves ______ 20
Marjoram. 1 oz. _____ 9°
Savory, 1 oz: 22 90
Thymes To 9m 5 = 90
Tumeric, 2% oz. ____. 90
STARCH
Corn
Kingsford, 40 Ibs. _. 11%
Powdered. bags ___. 4 50
Argo, 48, 1 Ib. pkgs. 3 60
Cream, 48-1 _______ 4 80
Quaker, 40-1 ______ 0714
Gloss
Argo, 48, 1 lb. pkgs. 3 60
Argo, 12. 3 Ib. pkgs. 2 62
Argo, 8 5 Ib pkgs. __ 2 97
Silver Gloss, i8, Is _. 11%
Elastic, 64 pkgs. ____ 5 35
Tiger, Eee 3 30
Tiger. 50 Ibs. ________ 06
SYRUP
Corn
Blue Karo, No. 1% __ 2 69
Blue Karo, No. 5, 1 dz. 3 78
Blue Karo, No. 10 __ 3 58
Red Karo, No. 1% __ 2 90
Red Karo, No. 5, 1 dz. 4 04
Red Karo, No. 10 __ 3 84
Imit. Maple Flavor
Orange, No. 1%, 2 dz. 3 25
Orange, No. 5, 1 doz. 4 99
Maple and Cane
Kanuck, per gal. ____ 1 50
Kanuck, 5 gal. can __ 6 50
Maple
Michigan, per gal. __ 2 75
Welchs. per gal. ____ 3 25
COOKING OIL
Mazola
Pints, 2 doz. 2.22. -— 6 75

Quarts, 1 doz. --.___ 6 25
Half Gallons, 1 doz. ~ 11 76
Gallons, % doz. -... 11 380

TABLE SAUCES

Lea & Perrin, large_. 6 0
Lea & Perrin, small.. 3 35

epper .........--_--_ 1.60
Royal Mint: —-..-. 2 40
Tobasco, 2 oz. ~-----. 4 25
Sho You, 9 0z., doz... 2 25
A-l, large 20. -- 4 75
A-1 gmap oo. 3 3 15
Caper, 2 02. 3530 3 30

TEA
Blodgett-Beckley Co.
Royal Garden, % Wb. 765
Royal Garden, % lb. _. 77

Japan
Medium ..__._..... a-- 36@36
Choice: 22 37@62
Bancy 2 52@61
No. F' Nibbe: 2 64
1 tb. pkg. Sifting ______ 14
Qunpowder
Choice: 0 40
Fancy 28 47
Ceylon
Pekoe, medium ________ 57

English Breakfast
Congou, medium .______

28

Congou, Choice ____ 35@36

Congou, Fancy ____ 42@43
Oolong

Mediuni: 39

Choice: 3253 45

Raney 22 ae 50
TWINE

Coton, 3 ply cone

ao 40
Cotton, 3 ply Balls ____ 42
Wool, 6 ply: = 38
VINEGAR
Cider, 40 Grain ________ 23
White Wine, 80 grain__ 26
White Wine, 40 grain__ 19
WICKING
No. 0, per gross ______ 80
No. 1, per gross _____ 1 25
No. 2, per gross _____ 1 50
No. 3. per gross _____ 2 30
Peerless Rolls, per doz. 90
Rochester, No. 2, doz. 50
Rochester, No. 3, doz. 2 00
Rayo, per doz. _____ 75
WOODENWARE
Baskets
Bushels, narrow band,
wire handles ____| 75
Bushels, narrow band,
wood handles ____- 1 80
Market, drop handle__ 90
Market, single handle_ 95
Market, extra ____ 1 60
Splint, larse, 23s 8 50
Splint, medium ______ 7 50
Splint, small _______ 6 50
Churns
Barrel, 5 gal.. each -~ 2 40
Barrel, 10 gal., each__ 2 55
3 to 6 gal., per gak .. 16
Pails
10 qt. Galvanized ____ 2 60
12 qt. Galvanized -. 2 85
14 qt. Galvanized ____ 3 10
12 qt. Flaring Gal. Jr. 5 00
10 qt. Tin Dairy 400
Traps
Mouse, Wood, 4 holes. 60
Mouse, wood, 6 hoies_ 76
Mouse, tin, 5 holes __ 65
Rat, wood ____________ 00
Rat, spring __________ 1 00
Mouse, Spring 30
Tubs
Large Galvanized soc IG
Medium Galvanized __ 7 75
Small Galvanized ___ 6 75
Washboards
Banner, Globe ________ 5 50
Brass, single ______ 6 25
Glass. single ______ 6 00
Double Peerless ______ 8 50
Single Peerless _____ 7 50
Northern Queen ______ 5 50
Oniversal 2 7 25
Wood Bowls
13 in. Butter ________ 00
15 in. Butter _____ 9 00
17 in. Butter _____ 18 00
19 in. Butter ____ 25 00

WRAPPING PAPER

Fibre, Manila, white

No. 1 Fibre ____- | oes
Butchers DF _ 06%
Kraft cer. oe os 0614
Kraft Stripe _.___--_ 09%,

YEAST CAKE

Magic, 3 doz. _... 2 70
Sunlight, 3 doz. ______ 2 70
Sunlight, 1% doz. ___ 1 35
Yeast Foam, 3 doz. __ 2 70

Yeast Foam, 1% doz. 1 35

YEAST—COMPRESSED
Flei nn, per doz. 380

 

Bie paneer

 

aa

  

30
RELIEF FOR THE TAXPAYER.

Little Hope Until We Dispose of the
Chauvinists.

Much is being written in the daily
press now days concerning our taxes,
especially those relating to our schools
and educational system. In all the
discussions taking place the individual
taxpayer seems to be left out of the
picture probably due to the fact that
most of the arguments pro and con
are carried on by either politicians or
educators. With the idea in mind that
the viewpoint of the small business
man and taxpayer might be a refresh-
ing novelty, in view of the scarcity of
publicity put out by and for the benefit
of the small business man and tax-
payer, I am taking the liberty of sub-
mitting what to my mind could be
done if our present State officials are
truly anxious to reduce the burden of
taxation. Since I heave been reading
the Tradesman for many years I have
come to look to you for much of the
progressive and advanced ideas from
which spring the ever increasing tide
of indignation and resentment against
our present system of political and
educational government.

In discussing educational matters I
admit the educator is best qualified to
handle the subject. By the same token
no one is better qualified to discuss
taxation then the taxpayer. He is the
one who makes it possible for the edu-
cator to try out many of the expensive
ideas with which our education system
is burdened. Without the taxpayer the
educator would soon find himself with-
out visible means of support, therefor
it would seem discretion, combined
with silence, would be the policy of
the educator in all matters of taxation.
The more our educators go beyond the
sphere of education the greater be-
comes the resentment of the taxpayer.

During the past fifteen years a con-
dition has developed which threatens
to overwhelm our school system and
bring disaster to the entire Nation.
I refer to over education. No one de-
nies the right of every boy and girl
to an adequate education at the ex-
pense of the taxpayers. By adequate
I mean a term in school long enough
to put the child through all the grades
up to and including our high schools,
When this has been accomplished I
contend the taxpayers have done their
full duty and should be relieved of
any further obligations to the child if
the child wishes to continue its educa-
tion. No doubt many will contend this
idea is rank radicalism, but from the
standpoint of the taxpayer which I am
using it would make a vast difference
in the tax bill if the idea was adopted.
In fact, the adoption of this idea would
completely revamp our school system
and exert a great influence on the Na-
tion as a whole since it would tend
to prevent the education of enormous
numbers who are not mentally quali-
fied to absorb higher education and put
them to work in productive lines, one
of our greatest needs to-day. Under
this system: only the most ambitious,
industrious and resourceful individuals
would attempt to reach the top. Our
professions would not be overcrowded
and demoralized as at present. The
general intellectual level of the Nation

MICHIGAN TRADESMAN

would be raised considerably higher
than it now is,

At this point some one might ask,
what would become of our colleges
and universities now owned and oper-
ated by the State if restrictions were
placed on education? There are several
answers to this question. The first and
most evident answer possible from the
standpoint of the taxpayer would be
to make each institution self-support-
ing. If and when all possible means
to make educational institutions self-
supporting have been tried and ex-
hausted without results, the next move,
if we are to look at our educational
problem strictly from a business stand-
point, as it should be, is to liquidate
the institutions or for the State to turn
them over to some one for private
operation. Under private ownership
and freed of taxation our present state
educational institutions would undoubt-
edly pay the operators dividends, since
there would be no original investment
or purchase price involved (more rank
radicalism). All other things being as
they are this year, if this system was
in force, our taxes for 1931 would be
delightfully lower and a pleasure to
pay. There is a growing doubt in the
minds of many of our taxpayers rela-
tive to the good done by our institu-
tions of higher learning. It has long
been suspected that conditions were
not as good as they might be. It ap-
pears the student body, with the as-
sistance of individuals actuated entirely
by monetary motives developed in the
past ten years, under the sponsorship
of misguided but well meaning people,
have created a situation demanding the
most drastic and far sweeping investi-
gation possible. Whether or not any
results come from this investigation
remains to be seen. However, we
should not allow ourselves to become
unduly optimistic at this time. Investi-
gations have been held before and the
results obtained have never been more
than temporary. We should not forget
human nature cannot be changed by
legislation, nor can morality be legis-
lated forcibly into an unwilling people.

That some of our prominent educa-
tors are aware all is not right with our
educational system and have given it
much thought is shown every now and
then by what we read in the press.
Some of these men are genuinely wor-
ried with the trend of events succeed-
ing each other with dazzling speed.
Serious questions are being asked, not
the least of which is, what is becoming
of our young people? What will the
college boy and girl now in the midst
of this highly organizezd but loosely
conducted system do when the time
comes they must depend entirely upon
themselves to pull them through? Ac-
cording to Albert Edward Wiggam,
American intelligence, as represented
by our colleges, seems to be on the
decline, continuing he says: There are
three world possibilities which lie ahead
of civilized man. One is that he will
take the instrument which science has
placed at his command and destroy
civilization. Another is that he will
continue to go through a lot of political
muddling as he is going through now,
with heli always waiting to break loose.
The third is that he may finally de-
cide to apply human intelligence to hu-

man affairs. We have four types of
men who cannot help things under
present conditions. One is the profes-
sional optimist or pessimist. Both of
them live in a world made up mostly
of fanciful wishes. They are not of
much use to the world at present, be-
cause they do not live in it. Another
one who is of little help is the ever
present conservative who believes noth-
ing should be done for the first time,
as it has never been done before, The
last of the quartet is the radical who
believes nothing should be done except
for the first time and is convinced his
cure all is the only thing that will
remedy conditions. What we need to-
day, according to Mr. Wiggan, is the
same mental process which is used to
repair an automobile, knowledge and
hard work, both of which are more or
less strangers in the present scheme
of education.

In conclusion, I would say there is
little hope of any worthwhile relief
for the taxpayer until we find a way
to dispose of the political, govern-
mental, and educational chauvinists in-
festing this Nation to-day.

A. C. Martin,

St. Johns, Mich.

so? 2>___
Late Business News From Ohio.
Cincinnati — James P. Orr, newly

elected president of the United States
Shoe Co., will continue to be actively
connected with the Potter Shoe Co.,
serving as president of both concerns.
Mr. Orr is a former president of the
N.S. R. A. and one of the outstanding
retail shoe men of the country.

Columbus—Forty years in the retail
shoe business is the record of John
J. Baird of Columbus, who served two
terms as president of the National Shoe
Retailers’ Association and-a director of
the Ohio Valley Retail Shoe Dealers’
Association for eight years and its
president for one year. Mr. Baird was
associated with the Pitts Shoe Co. for
thirty-six years, a greater part of the
time in the capacity of manager. Four
years ago Hanan & Son took over the
business, and more recently the store
has been divided into two departments.
The men’s department is housed on the
second floor of the John P. Pumphrey
Co., clothiers, and the woman’s depart-
ment in the Grace Goyle Shop, a
women’s specialty store. Mr. Baird
continues as manager of both depart-
ments,

Findlay—Schedules filed in U. S.
District Court at Toledo, where an
involuntary petition in bankruptcy had
been filed against J. J. Prager Co.,
men’s furnishings, list liabilities of $11,-
555 and assets of $3,900. A petition was
filed to stay adjudication and for ref-
erence to a referee for consideration
of a proposed offer of composition, This
petition was granted. The offer is for
15 per cent. payment in cash and 5
per cent. in two months and 5 per cent.
in four months after date of confirma-
tion of the composition, Charles Rot-
hert, of Toledo, was appointed cus-
todian receiver the date the petition
was filed.

Cleveland—Dart G. Peterson, haber-
dashery and cigar, has filed a voluntary
petition in bankruptcy in the U. S.
District Court here, listing liabilities
of $9,345 and assets of $1,577.

 

   

February 25, 1931

Fremont—Schedules filed in U. Ss.
District Court, at Toledo, where an
involuntary petition in bankruptcy had
been filed against Farm & Home Co.,
mail order and retail department store,
list liabilities of $110,609 and assets
on hand of $43,712. The schedules
were executed by Paul E. Spieldenner,
receiver appointed by the State Court
in the receivership action pending there
at the time the voluntary petition was
filed. Assets consist of real estate,
$25,000; cash on hand, $9,042; stock of
merchandise at sales building, $2,400;
four trucks and autos, $465; fixtures,
$1,000; display building, $150; accounts
receivable, $5,654.

Louisville—Isaac QO. Stoner, 55 a
shoe merchant, died suddenly at his
home here. For the past fifteen years
he had been engaged in the retail shoe
business here. He leaves a widow and
one daughter.

Uhrichsville—A] Schwartz, of thic
city, has purchased the stock of wom-
en’s wear of Pearl L. Hayward,

————____-<?——.______.
Proceedings of the Grand _ Rapids
Bankruptcy Court.
(Continued from page 23)
schedules, reference and adjudication jin
the matter of John H. Wyatt, Bankrupt
No. 4404. The bankrupt is a resident of
Grand Rapids. The schedule shows assets
of $335 of which the full amount is claim-
ed as exempt. with liabilities of $24,398.65.
The court has written for funds and upon
receipt of same the first meeting of cred-
itors will be called. The list of creditors
of said bankrupt is as follows: The bank-
rupt’s creditors are practically the same
as the preceding list, except the following:
Houseman & Jones, Grand Rapids $ 22.50
Mills & Healy, Grand Rapids +:___ 36.72
Geo. Connor & Sons, Grand Rapids 36.75
Mich. Bell Tel. Co., Grand Rapids 3.30
P. Steketee & Sons, Grand Rapids 3.37
Consumers Power Co.., Grand Rap. 3.50

Leonard J. Kik, Grand Rapids ____ 725.00
Edward Luhman, Muskegon ______ 750.00
Ret, Wwatt) Tustin. ae 665.00

‘ In the matter of Charles H. Moore.
individually and doing business as City
Awning Co., Bankrupt No. 4129, the trus-
tee has filed his final report and account.
and a final meeting of creditors was hell
Feb. 13. There were no appearances ex-
cept that of one creditor and the trus-
tee. The trustee’s final report and ac-
count was approved and allowed. Claims
were proved and allowed. No dividends
were paid. Expenses were ordered paid.
as far as funds would permit. No ob-
jections were made to the discharge of
the bankrupt. The final meeting then
adjourned without date, and the case will
be closed and returned to the district
court. in due course.

Feb. 20. We have to-day received the
schedules, reference and adjudication jn
the matter of John Spitters, Bankrupt
No. 4405. The bankrupt is a resident of
Kalamazoo, and his occupation ‘is that of
a carpenter. The schedule shows assets
of $449 of which $405 is claimed as ex-
empt, with liabilities of $2,082.80. The
court has written for funds and upon
receipt of same the first meeting of cred-
itors will be called.

Feb. 21. We have to-day received the
schedules, reference and adjudication in
the matter of Jacob H. Sikkenga and
Abram O. Sikkenga’ individually and as
copartners doing business as Sikkenga
Bros., Bankrupt No. 4406. The bank-
rupts are located at Kalamazoo. The
schedule shows assets of $192 with lia-
bilities of $1,110.46. The court ha's writ-
ten for funds and upon receipt of same
the first meeting of creditors will be
called. The list of creditors of said
bankrupt is as follows:
City of Kalamazoo 0 $185.11
C. G. Bard, Kalamazoo _.__..__. 9
Edwards & Chamberlin Hardware

Con. Kalamazoo: 69 86.58
Kal. Gazette, Kalamazoo _________ 44.37
First National Bank, Kalamazoo__ 400.00
Casper Hass, Kalamazoo 8.56

Ww. C. Hopson Co., Grand Rapids _ 67.28
Mihlam Mercantile Agency, Kala. 28.50

Glass Service Co., Kalamazoo ______ 7.50
Van Bochove Lbr. Co.. Kalamazoo 10.55
So. S. Lumber Co., Kalamazoo ____ 86.60

Lumbermen’s Credit & Warehouse

Ce Malamazod: 6 os 126.00
Franklin Paint Co.. Cleveland ____ 27.50

Feb. 21. We have to-day received the
Schedules, reference and adjudication in
the matter of Charles Schall, Bankrupt
No. 4407. The bankrupt is a resident of
Muskegon, and his occupation is that of
a laborer. The schedule shows assets of
none with liabilities of $489.20. The court
has written for funds and upon receipt
of same the first meeting of creditors
will be called,

 

    
   
 
     
    
      
 
   
 
      
        
       
      
       
 
 
 
 
 
  
 
 
  
    
    
 
   
 
  
 
   
  
 
  
  
    
   
   
   
  
  
   
 
 
  
 
  
  
  
 
  
 
 
 
 
   
     
  
  
   
  
 
   
    
  
  
 
  
   
    
    
   
   
   
 
   
 
    
    
  
   
   
   
   
   
   
  
  
 
 
  
  
   
 
  
 
   
  
 
   
   
   
   
  
   
    
  
   
 
  
  
   
     
  
   
   
   
 
   
 

 

  

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February 25, 1981

MICHIGAN TRADESMAN

   

31

 

INDEPENDENT VS. CHAIN.
(Continued from page 17)
merce Committee of the House poitits
out in one of its reports (See address
of the Hon. Clyde Kelly, Congression-
al Record, Jan. 18, 1929) that chain
stores offer standard goods of a na-
tionally advertised brand at prices
which represent cost, or, in some cases,
less than cost,” for the purpose of at-
tracting customers, and make up their
loss on this standard article by greater
profits on staple goods on which there
are no standard or advertised prices,

so that the customer is not advised as

to a fair price,” for

As a chain store representative re-
vealed before a Congressional Com-
mittee, his organization made a profit
of 52 per cent. from their own brand
of baking powder.—Frank Farrington,
“Meting Chain Store Competition.”

The Hon. Clyde Kelly, Congressman
from Pennsylvania, points out that
standard trade-marked articles are
used as a bait to delude innocent pur-
chasers. “The standard article is
slashed below the actual cost and
dangled beneath the customer’s eye,
and something just as good is urged.
Unnamed, blind articles are sold and
the ‘full price’ taken out of the cus-
tomer’s pocket ... Saving a few cents
through a bargain rate on standard
goods is of no value when dollars are
taken from the consumers through ex-
cessive prices on unknown goods.”—
Congressional Record, Jan. 18, 1929.

There is no fundamental difference
between the price of goods sold by
chain stores and the price of goods of
the same quality sold by independent
stores, for

Professor R. S. Alexander of Colum-
bia University, in “A ‘Study in Retail
Grocery Prices,’ sets forth the results
of an investigation in ten districts of
New York of the average prices for
50 grocery commodities of known
quality in 721 independent stores and
301 chain stores. The independent
stores were shown to have an advan-
tage of 69 cents on the basis of the
average price. This means that the
average price of these 50 products in
the chain stores covered by the survey
is 4.6 cents on the dollar higher than
the average price of the same products
in the independent stores covered. On
the basis of average percentage of
prices, Dr. Alexander found that chains
enjoy the slight advantage in prices of
but 2.64 per cent., and that in cases
of articles of high unit value this ad-
vantage is materally reduced. This is
quite different from the 13 per cent.
to 15 per cent. advantage claimed by
chain stores.

Refutation: M. L. Toulme, Secretary
of the National Wholesale Grocers As-
sociation, points out that the prices of
chain foods cannot be compared fairly
with those published by the Bureau of
Labor, because statistics of this bureau
are taken from only a few retail gro-
cers and do not take into account the
quality of the food commodities.—N. xX
Times, March 16, 1930.

Whatever price advantages may
exist-in favor of chain stores are off-
set by the fact that they do not give
the consumer the benefits of delivery
and credit service, for

As Paul H. Nystrom says, “the pub-
lic must pay for what it gets and it

gets just about what it pays for. If
the public is willing to do ‘without
credits, delivery, unusual hours... the
savings from ‘the elimination of these
services may be had in the form of re-
duced retail prices in reduced service
stores. Carrying the formula to its
logical but ridiculous extreme it might
even be proposed that if the public, or
any particular portion of it, should care
to produce its own goods at home, it
could save not only the costs of dis-
tribution, but also the costs of produc-
tion as well.”’—Pamphlet distributed
by U.S. Chamber of Commerce, 1930.
——_+ +.
How To Keep Old Debts From Being
Outlawed.

(Continued from page 21)
telephones in the office so that some-
one can listen in with you on the con-
versation and prove what the debtor
said.

Care should be exercised not to ac-
cept a promise to pay by an attorney
who represents the debtor unless you
see the debtor’s authority in writing,
because an attorney cannot bind his
client unless there is evidence of a
general authority or a special author-
ity to make such a promise, because
of the well-known principle of law
that an agent cannot bind his prin-
cipal.

Where there are several joint debt-
ors, the statute is not revived, nor is
the running of the statute suspended,
by the promise of one of several joint
debtors, for such.a promise cannot be
used against the others.

If the debtor dies, it is well not to
consider the account as lost, because
there may be a provision in his will
that all just debts be paid, which is
construed as sufficient in most states
to prevent the bar of the statute.

If you are dealing with a debtor
who is familiar with the statute of
limitations, you should be careful
about a verbal promise made by him
not to plead the statute in case a debt
becomes outlawed, because ‘this is not
sufficient either as a new promise, or
as an acknowledgment of indebtedness.
You should get the debtor to put it
in writing; otherwise, it has no value.

If a person leaves the jurisdiction
and goes out of the state, his absence
or non-residence stops the statute from
running. So, also, if the debtor is
concealed within the state and cannot
be found that also stops the statute
from running.

Most meat merchants are not in-
clined to sue a debtor before ‘tthe
statute of limitations has expired, be-
cause they think he is not worth a
judgment, and they do not want to
incur the additional cost and expense.
But later the debtor may make money.
He may even get rich, or he may fall
heir to money, and then it is too late.
The best rule to follow, therefore, if
you cannot get a part payment, a note
or a promise to pay in writing, is to
reduce a claim to a judgment, for then
there are more chances to collect it
over a longer period of time, and you
always have the whip-hand over the
debtor.

If, however, the statute has run or
is liable to run and suit has not been
filed, every effort should be made to
get a dollar payment, or a promisory
note, or a letter from the debtor prom-

ising to pay the account, because
every promise to pay a debt which is
barred ‘by the statute of limitations,
must be in writing and signed by the
debtor. If you can get the debtor,
therefore, to write you a letter prom-
ising payment that is enough.

Where a debtor is willing to sign
the following words, typewritten be-
low an account, which is presented to
him for payment: “The above state-
ment is correct and I owe the balance
as shown due above,” that is enough
of a promise in writing to take the
case out of the statute of limitations,
because in subscribing to the acknowl-
edgment of the correctness of the ac-
count and by stating the amount due,
the debtor’s acknowledgment consti-
tutes a new promise sufficient to re-
move the bar of the statute.

So, also, a letter written’ to the
debtor asking him for payment on ac-
count, stating the amount and asking
him to return the letter with a check-
mark opposite any one of the following
is sufficient, if he signs it, viz.:

Cl I enclose $1 on account, and I ex-
pect to pay the balance, or at least
a part, thereof; on or _ before
eg , 1931.

[1 I acknowledge the above debt as
justly due, but regret that I am
unable to pay it at this time. I
-‘hope, however, to make payment
On Of berore - 22585 2 , 1931.

QO The above statement is correct, and
I owe the amount shown, but am
unable to pay at this time. I will
try to make some payment on or
Deldre ese Ee {OSE

Fred E. Kunkel.
—__- 2»

Some Contrasts Between Italian and
French Methods.
(Continued from page 20)
way. Only after diligent search and
many trials did we find a fairly clean
—no, not that, but less dirty—latteria
where we could get butter that was
eatable. It was a mystery to us why

Italians bought butter at all.

Italians simply do not understand
dirt at all. More details later to show
this—of farms and farmhouses and
other points. Their lives ‘belie the
germ theory completely, else there
would be no live Italians.

It is, therefore, a great happiness
to get into France. Here the shops are
spic-and-span; the food handlers are
dressed in white aprons that are still
white; food is displayed in appetizing
array. Butter can be bought in Nice
for several days’ use and found usable
during that time. This means some-
thing, too, when you remember that

all continental butter is unsalted—
called “sweet,” which in Italy is a
misnomer—therefore hard to keep

fresh tasting.

Here are plenty of delicatessen shops
filled with things to tempt the most
jaded appetite and priced at _ridiculous-

   
  
 
   
    

Do You Wish To Sell Out!
CASH FOR YOUR STOCK,

Fixtures or Plants of every
description.

ABE DEMBINSKY

Auctioneer and Liquidator
734 So. Jefferson Ave., Saginaw, Mich
Phone Federal 1944:

ly low  prices—in most instances.

~Enough gorgonzola cheese for several

meals for two, for example, costs 6c.
Milk is about 10c per quart, delivered
at the door. Pate de fois gras is sold
in large “sausages,” sliced like boiled
ham, at a cost no greater than boiled
ham which, hereabouts, is much less
than with us. And here, after more
than 90 days of barren living, we find
real English bacon. It is lean, not
tender fat as with us; but it is sweet
and delicious. Oh, boy Oh, joy.
Paul Findlay.
—_——_>~+ > _____

Plan Period Designs in Glassware.

Responding to the demand for peri-
od styles in all types of house furnish-
ings, manufacturers of popular-price
glassware are planning to bring out a
number of new patterns in the more
popular period patterns. Georgian,
Early American and Colonial are the
three types expected to be pushed. To
date topaz glassware outsells any other
color in the table glassware lines. Rock
crystal is next in popularity, according
to selling agents. A number of buyers
are in the market for March sales mer-
chandise, but orders have been limited.

Business Wants Department

Advertisements inserted under this head
for five cents a word the first Insertion
and four cents a word for each subse-
quent continuous insertion. If set in
capital letters, double price. No charge
less than 50 cents. Small display adver-
tisements in this department, per
inch. Payment with order is required, as
amounts are too small to open accounts.

For Sale—Suburban bakery, grocery.
Large corner lot. All improvements.
Newly built. Apartment above. Every-
thing $12,000. Battle Creek. Address No.
383 c/o Michigan Tradesman. 383

FOR SALE—GROCERY AND MARKET

 

 

 

 

—-DOING $35,000 per year, mostly cash.
Modern equipment. $5,200. C. M. Hauser,
New Carlisle. Indiana, 384

 

Hotel in Western Michigan resort city
desires middle-aged clerk, good person-
ality, able to invest about $5,000. Mod-
erate salary. Address No. 385, c/o Mich-
igan Tradesman. 385

Wanted—A good, paying grocery in
Cadillac, Petoskey, or some other good
town in Northern Michigan. Address
No. 379, c/o Michigan Tradesman. 379

I HAVE $2,500.00 CASH AS FIRST
nayment on dry goods and grocery store
in a good farming town in Western Mich-

 

 

igan. Particulars, please. Address No.
381. c/o Michigan Tradesman. 381
FOR SALE—Old established grocery

and meat business in Muskegon. Doing
good business. Always a money maker.
Has been in same family thirty years.
Owner is deceased and heirs wish to dis-
pose of same. Will sell or rent building
separately. John Kolkema, 140. Anple
Ave.. Muskegon, Michigan. 382
A $500 MONTH PROFIT—I offer old
established CAFE-SODA-CONFECTION-
ERY: best location, onposite theater, live

town 3,000. Cheap rent. long lease. No
competition. Actually doing over $50 a
day. clearing over $500 month. Best

large stock. Golden oppor-
tunity for some one. Disagreement rea-
son this % value offer. Quick buyer for
$5.000. with $3,000 cash, balance out of
profits. E. R. Steele. Knox, Indiana. 374

NEW REFRIGERATORS, 16 to 18 cubic
feet capacity. equipped for either ice or
electric ‘refrigeration. Porcelain lined,
cork insulated. 16 cubic foot box, $70.
We took over the entire stock of the -
Challenge Refrigerator Co. of Grand Ha-
ven and have only 22 of these bix boxes
left for disposal. COLUMBIAN’S WARE-
HOUSE FURNITURE COMPANY, Logan
Street and Ionia Avenue, Grand Rapids,
Mich. Phone 94-278. 375

equipment,

 

I OFFER CASH!

For Retail Stores—Stocks—
Leases—all or Part.
Telegraph—Write—Telephone

L. LEVINSOHN
Saginaw, Mich.
Telephone Riv 2263W
Established 1909

 

 

opt

Serene

[apeuagppuaisiemamagtneeeeee eee

SSS

 

MICHIGAN TRADESMAN

February 25, 1931

 

DETROIT DOINGS.

‘Late Business News From Michigan’s
Metropolis.

Clay R. Pollan, who has’ been ad-
vertising manager of Crowley, Milner
& Co., for several years, has been
made advertising and sales promotion
manager of this firm. In addition to
his present duties, Mr. Pollan will take
over the direction of sales promotion
activities formerly in the charge of G.
Scott Hughes, recently resigned as
noted. Mr. Pollan has been connected
with the Crowley, Milner advertising
department for five years, first as as-
sistant to H. P. Hildreth and as adver-
tising manager since the resignation
of ‘Mr. Hildreth. Prior to that he was
connected with Gimbel’s, Pittsburg.

G. Scott Hughes, sales promotion
manager for Crowley Milner & Co.,
has resigned to join George Harrison
Phelps, advertising agency, also of this
city. Mr. Hughes was formerly ad-
vertising and sales manager of Frank
& Seder here, and prior to that was
advertising manager for the J. L. Hud-
son Co. His successor will not be ap-
pointed for the present, it is stated.

Involuntary bankruptcy proceedings
have been filed in the U. S. District
Court here against Louis Jacobs, doing
business as Wise & Jacobs, dealers in
trunks and bags.

With its Grand Rapids plant virtual-
ly ready, the De Vaux-Hall Motors
Corporation will get into production
on its new popular priced six the first
week in March. Announcement to this
effect is made here following the selec-
tion of representatives in most of the
large territories in the East and Middle
West. Officials of the company who
have spent the last seven weeks at-
tending motor shows in various parts
of the country express themselves as
fully satisfied with the acceptance of
the new car by both the trade and the
public.

While all three of the midget cars,
the Austin, Martin and Littlemac,
have passed up Detroit as headquar-
ters, the motor capital is interested in
. them. Word received there this week
has it that the Martin will be put on
a production schedule of 100 cars a
day in ‘March and that shipments to
the company’s 1,500 dealers will begin
in earnest to get the car launched co-
incident with the arrival of Spring.
Especial interest has been evoked here
by the intention to offer the Martin in
two versions, a standard coupe to list
at $250 and a de !uxe convertible model
at $350.

Detroit’s occupation with launching
the 1931 lines of new cars has pre-
vented it from showing more than
passing interest in the new~ models
scheduled for Spring. It has not for-
gotten that Peerless has definitely an-
nounced its intention of invading the
higher cylinder field; nor that Jordan’s
new creations were slated for the late
Winter or early Spring months.

Rumors have been scarce around
Detroit since the first of the year. The
appearance of the 1931 lines, and the
recommendation of the National Auto-
mobile Chamber of Commerce for uni-
form new model announcement dates,
halted the customary deluge of guesses
and reports. Now, however, the story
is heard that one of the most unusual

passenger cars is to switch to a twelve
cylinder or sixteen cylinder engine.
Officially, it is greeted with cold
silence.

One of the current musings upon
milestones passed by the industry re-
lates to December registration figures.
That month was the first in the his-
tory of motor cars in which a six led
the sales list. Chevrolet accomplished
the trick with its 31,609 to ford’s 29,-
651. If commercial vehicle registra-
tions are included, however, ford leads
its rival 38,693 to 37,016.

January sales reports so far received
show an increase of approximately 41
per cent. over December and 35 per
cent. over the average increase for the
past five years. Together with a gen-
eral acceleration of orders from all
parts of the country, the ifigures en-
hance the feeling of optimism which
has existed since the first of the year.
One large manufacturer who has in-
creased February production 50 per
cent. over the original estimate for the
month declares it will no more than
fill current orders.

——_.- ~~. ___
Gabby Gleanings From Grand Rapids.

W. A. Gilleland, who made a heroic
attempt to establish a wholesale gro-
cery establishment at this market under
the name of the Western Michigan
Grocer Co., has abandoned the under-
taking because of lack of financial
backing. He has entered into a con-
tract arrangement with the Kroger
Grocer & Baking Co. and enters upon
the duties of his new position March
2. For the present he will be located
at Cincinnati.

Grand Rapids Council No. 131,
United Commercial Travelers of Amer-
ica will hold their twenty-ninth annual
banquet and ball in the Masonic Tem-
ple, the evening of March 7. This loca-
tion has several advantages, and the
building is especially adapted for events
of this kind. The Committee has made
plans for an elaborate party, employing
two orchestras, two soloists, a reader
and other interesting features. The ad-
dress of the evening will be delivered
by Rev. Jas. W. Hailwood, pastor of
All Souls church. This event is looked
forward to from one year to the next
by many of the members, to whom it
is an annual reunion. Gerald J. Wag-
ner, well-known engineer, is the chair-
man of Committee.

The Salesmen’s Club of Grand Rap-
ids has launched a new objective. It
proposes to raise a sum of money to
be used in purchasing milk for under-
nourished children and text books for
students who require assistance in
financing their school year. This work
is undertaken in full co-operation with
school officials and teachers. To raise
the money to be expected, a series of
benefit card parties will be held. The
first one will be held at the home of
Mr. and Mrs. John B. Olney, 1305
Sherman street, the evening of Feb. 28,
1931. The public is cordially invited
to attend these parties and participate
in the work in behalf of the future
citizens of our city.

Maurice Dark (M. J. Dark & Son) is
happy over the advent of a little girl
who tips the beam at 91% pounds,
which increases his inventory of chil-
dren to two girls and two boys. Both

mother and child are doing well at
St. Mary’s hospital.
2-2

Late Business News From Ohio.

Cleveland—The England Millinery,
Inc., list assets of $4,300 and liabilities
of $4,465. There are ninety-six cred-
itors with unsecured claims,

Cleveland—The trustee of the Ames
Co., Inc., department store, 240 Eu-
clid avenue, has received an offer of
$3,500 in full settlement of certain liti-
gation in the U. S. District Court at
Detroit, against the Louis Ostrov Shoe
Co., in connection with an alleged pref-
erence. The matter will be heard in
the offices of referees Geo. A. Marston
and Paul King, suite 648, of Buhl
building, 535 Griswold street, Detroit,
on March 2 at 1 p. m.

Cleveland—Harry D. Cram has been
elected president of the William Bing-
ham Co., Cleveland, wholesale hard-
ware distributors. He succeeds H. L.
Thompson, Toledo, who becomes
chairman of the executive committee.
Mr. Cram has been the active head of
the company as vice-president and gen-
eral manager,

Oxford—Albert M. Silverman, trad-
ing as the Economy Clothes Shop, 37
West High street, has filed a volun-
tary petition in bankruptcy, listing as-
sets of $900 and liabilities of $9,416.

Cleveland—Wm. B. Gottlieb, also
known as Ben Gottlieb, has filed a
voluntary petition in bankruptcy in the
U. S. District Court here, listing lia-
bilities of $2,550 and assets of $800.

Toledo—Elsas Apparel Co., women’s
ready to wear, has filed a voluntary
petition in bankruptcy in the U. S.
District Court here.

Cleveland—John L. Smith was hon-
ored Feb. 18 at the Hotel Cleveland,
Ohio, by the George Worthington Co.,
Cleveland, wholesale hardware distri-
butors, in recognition of his fifty years
of service to the company. Officers,
directors and department heads of the
organization attended a luncheon, fol-
lowing which Mr. Smith was presented
with a gold watch. Mr. Smith, who
joined the company at the age of 25,
has had charge of checking hardware
invoices and pricing orders for the en-
tire period of fifty years.

— +--+

Rounded Out Fifty Years as a
Merchant. :
August Loeffler, Wyandotte mer-
chant, celebrated, ‘Saturday, the fiftieth
anniversary of the founding of his

business. He is the only Wyandotte
merchant so far as he can learn, who
has been in business continuously for
fifty years.

Left an orphan with one brother and
four sisters to help support when he
was 10 years old, Mr. Loeffler’s first
job was in the old Wyandotte Rolling
Mill at 75 cents a day. After twe
years there he spent two years in a
drug store, another two years in a gro-
cery, all in Wyandotte, then six in a
dry goods store in Detroit.

When he was 22, Mr. Loeffler had
saved $144. With this and credit es-
tablished through his acquaintance
with traveling salesmen, he opened a
store two doors from his present store
on Biddle avenue, Wyandotte. Two
years later he removed to the corner
of Eureka and Biddle, and remained
there for eight years, when he erected
the building he now occupies.

“When I went into business Biddle
avenue was what the writers like to
refer to as a sea of mud,” Mr. Loeffler
recalled. “When it rained horses and
buggies could barely traverse this
street. Wagons and rigs sank to their
hubs.

“T was actually ashamed to live in a
town that would permit such a street to
exist. “I got every name on a petition
to pave Biddle avenue from Eureka
avenue to Oak street. A short time
until it was paved throughout.

Mr. Loeffler’s store served as a train-
ing school for more than half the mer-
chants in Wyandotte in their youth.
H. S. Amiot, former mayor and now
proprietor of the downriver’s largest
cleaning establishment, worked for him
for ten years.

Although he is now 72, ‘Mr. Loeffler
is an inveterate traveler. He has trav-
eled around the world and is planning
a trip to Alaska and another around
the world.

Sa te)
Hides and Pelts.

Green, No.

Green, No.

Cured, No.

Cures, Moi 2220 2 es ee 03
Calfskin, Green,

Calfskin, Green,

Calfsfin, Cured.

Calfskin. Cured,

Horse, No.

Horse, No.

 

 

Tinwashed,
TInwashed.
Unwashed,

reiects
fine

 

 

First National Bank, Bay

As Receiver under appointment of U. S. Court, Eastern District
of Michigan, is offering for sale,
ALL MERCHANDISE and FIXTURES and LEASEHOLD
IMPROVEMENTS in TWENTY-ONE STORES OF PEARCE
STORES COMPANY, all located in MICHIGAN.
Stocks comprising HOSIERY, UNDERWEAR, LINGERIE,
SWEATERS, KNIT GOODS and WOMEN’S APPAREL.

Will consider individual and group bids.
Wire

FIRST NATIONAL BANK, BAY CITY, MICH.
(Receivers for Pearce Stores: Co., Bay City, Mich.)

City, Mich.